All too often we are able to identify the unsafe behavior of others, but not in our self.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed in a study that in 2015, 745 truck drivers died on the job in the United States. This is an increase over the prior year and the most of any profession. In fact, roadway incidents rose by nine percent and accounted for 26 percent of all fatal work injuries.

The National Safety Council (NSC) has released data showing that as many as 40,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2016. The figure is 6 percent higher than the number of fatalities in 2015 and marks a 14 percent increase from 2014 – the largest two-year spike since 1964. In the same study, the NSC also found 83 percent of the people that participated in the survey believe that driving safety is a concern; however, they also admitted to speeding, texting and driving impaired.

These statistics are a horrible example of the “it will never happen to me" mentality. No one ever believes that today they will have an accident due to distraction. We are all irritated by the distraction of other drivers and the danger they present in our lives yet we engage in the same behaviors and fail to realize the danger we put ourselves and others in. It seems rather silly…we talk about the driving mistakes of others and we engage in the same behavior and do not associate the same risk in our own driving or habits.

Are you creating risk?  Do you report to work fatigued? Are you preoccupied with stressful situations at home? Do you text and/or talk on your cell phone? All of these are proven acts that cause accidents, but do you associate them with danger or risk?

Complacency is a killer. No one ever anticipates an accident happening to them. Do you hold yourself accountable to eliminating behavior that could lead to an accident? Regardless of anyone's position at Saia, we all have accountability to safety and performance. One does not exclude execution of the other.

We can all safely preform at a high level; however, execution of safe performance takes planning. I ask that you report to work well-rested. Leave distractions out of your work area. Plan and hold yourself accountable for safe work behavior, taking no short cuts and focusing on the tasks at hand. The good news is we all know how to work safely.

I ask that you challenge yourself every day to work safely. Your family is counting on you and so is Saia.