How To Get Properly Fueled, Well-Oiled, And Energized For Safe Driving

(PRINCETON, NJ – OCTOBER 9, 2013) – A well maintained vehicle will last longer and perform better than one without such care.  That’s a given.  Likewise, drivers who take the best care of their own bodies are likely to be better and safer drivers on the road.  Drive Safely Work Week (DSWW) takes a look at how drivers can keep themselves properly fueled, well-oiled, and energized for the road in its 2013 campaign.

DSWW is an annual safety campaign put forth by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS).  The campaign, which takes place October 7-11, 2013, contains numerous tips for businesses to use to remind their employees about important safety issues.  NAFA Fleet Management Association is proud to help promote the annual campaign and recommends businesses download the free materials at www.trafficsafety.org for their own employees.

Wednesday’s tip deals with exercise, stretching, and fueling up to avoid the “afternoon slump”.  The tip recommends staying well-fueled with strategic snacks, such as certain foods with a low-glycemic index which will help keep your blood glucose steady for up to two hours and may help increase alertness; stretching before hitting the road; and encouraging physical activity during the work day.

The idea of stretching came from the City of Austin Fleet Services Department who was a finalist for NAFA’s 2013 FLEXY Award in the category of Excellence in Public Service Fleet Safety. The fleet department developed the “Stretch-N-Go” program to help their fleet drivers loosen up each morning before getting behind the wheel for their daily route.  It’s a 20-30 minute process that is conducted at the beginning of each shift.  Results include:

• 83 percent reduction in injuries over a 3-year period
• Claims reduced by $350,000 over a 3-year period

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, flexibility helps with braking, getting in and out of the car, looking to the side and rear, steering, parking the car, adjusting seat belts, and sitting for long periods of time.  Regardless of one’s age, a regular stretching routine is a good idea that will improve reaction time and allow you to be better focused.

Drive Safely Work Week, which has been sponsored by NETS since 1996, encourages businesses to utilize a free campaign toolkit to help educate employees on the importance of safety. This year’s campaign is entitled, “Gear up for safe driving: Mind-Body-Vehicle”.  It highlights how being mindful of physical and mental wellness – along with the “health” of your vehicle – are all connected in making us safer drivers.

Safe driving is essential to the fleet managers who belong to NAFA, a group that collectively manages several million vehicles travelling on North American roads each day. NAFA has lent its support to the annual campaign for the past several years through a series of articles in NAFA publications such as FLEETSolutions magazine, NAFAConnection newsletter, press releases, and email blasts; as well as giving safety a prominent platform at the annual Institute & Expo conference and the creation of a committee devoted entirely to safety topics.

About NAFA Fleet Management Association

NAFA is the world's premier non-profit association for professionals who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe. NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location or fleet composition. NAFA's Full and Associate Members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance and repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 3.5 million vehicles including in excess of 1.1 million trucks of which 350 thousand are medium- and heavy-duty trucks. For more information visit http://www.nafa.org