Preparing Your Fleet for an Unusually Active Vehicle-Animal Collision Season
This year’s danger season may be exacerbated by the unique events of 2020, but recognizing it and preparing can empower drivers to make good choices in bad situations
By Donald Dunphy, Contributor
October 2020
Even in ordinary years, animal-to-vehicle collisions are a major problem for drivers both in fleet and otherwise. According to State Farm Insurance, the odds of a driver hitting a deer or other animals are 1 in 116. The company estimates that U.S. motorists made more than 1.9 million animal collision claims from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.
In 2018, the New York City Police Department recorded 103 deer-vehicle collisions around Staten Island -- a five percent increase from the previous 98 collisions just a year before -- and a 232 percent increase from 31 collisions in 2015.
Need we be reminded that 2020 has not been an ordinary year.
Organizational Effectiveness of Driver Safety Programs
By Teri Snow, CSP, CEO of Snow Advisory, LLC and eDriving’s EHS&S “Guru”
After evaluating a number of Best in Class EHS&S programs and Driver Safety Programs, it is quite revealing to find that many organizations are managing their Driver Safety programs quite independently from their EHS&S programs and vice versa.
In fact, for a variety of reasons, many Driver Safety Programs are managed by a completely different part of an organization; one which is often focused on claim costs, procuring assets, and maintaining vehicles. All of which are important considerations, but these groups are not necessarily knowledgeable in all aspects of EHS&S best practice and systems.
These separate organizational workstreams can unknowingly create a number of gaps in risk reduction initiatives and organizational effectiveness.
Let’s take a closer look at how such programs might be managed.
On Pause
“On pause.” “On hold.” “Groundhog Day.” However you want to phrase it, many things seem to be delayed these days. We just need to figure out where we can move forward, and where we need to pause.
In today’s first video, Laura Jozwiak talks about how - for many fleets - shared vehicle and mobility are on pause these days. On the other hand, she notes that EVs and electrification are moving right along!
On the topic of EVs and electrification, Mark Boada writes in today’s Fleet Spectator about the enlightening and informative fleet electrification session at last week’s AFLA NextGen virtual conference. Mike Sheldrick further examines the state of electrification of commercial vehicles in Will Amazon’s Delivery Van Signal a Surge in Truck BEVs?
Speaking of AFLA, thanks to everyone involved (Elizabeth, Katie, Laura, and so many others) for making the virtual conference a success! Everyone I’ve talked to truly enjoyed the sessions and the networking and the fun.
Take care of yourselves!
TED ROBERTS
President
Holman Enterprises Names Chris Conroy President and COO
Holman Enterprises announced a series of executive appointments that will support the organization’s continued evolution and further align the company’s unrivaled automotive core competencies.
Chris Conroy has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of Holman Enterprises and will be supported by a team of executive leaders from across the business.
In his new role, Conroy will be responsible for leading all Holman Enterprises’ operating companies in delivering innovative, technology-driven automotive solutions to commercial and consumer segments around the globe.
Michael Stafford Named Sales Director, Western Region, at Lordstown Motors
Industry veteran Michael Stafford has recently joined Lordstown Motors in the newly created role of Sales Director, Western Region.
Michael’s extensive automotive career includes representing such companies as Tesla, Audi of America, Inc., Wheels Inc., US Fleet Leasing and National Car Rental. He has created and developed many sales programs with numerous fleet managers, corporate fleet management companies and industry leaders in various key positions throughout his career.
When asked about Lordstown Motors, Stafford responded, “Lordstown Motors is well positioned to make an impact in the truck market. Lordstown is targeting an area which demands both safety and reliability, while reducing the inefficiencies of modern work trucks." The Endurance (Lordstown Motors' EV truck) is engineered for Commercial use and will be the first all-electric truck to use in-wheel hub motor technology."
