Driving the Safety Culture: Reducing Motor Vehicle Incidents in 2025

It’s the start of a new year and the CWS leadership team has laid out its goals and objectives for 2025.  At the forefront is our company’s commitment to the safety and well-being of every employee.  While there are numerous safety topics we could tackle, one primary focus for the coming year will be to significantly reduce Motor Vehicle Incidents (MVI’s). Safe driving practices are not only essential for protecting our workforce but also for ensuring the safety of the communities in which we operate.  

According to Bryce Mendenhall, COO, “CWS’s incident rates were quite high last year, especially as it relates to MVI’s. Companywide we had 74 MVI’s in 2024…a number that is not acceptable.  I have challenged our managers to reduce overall safety incidents and MVI’s by at least 33% in 2025. That number would still represent 50+ MVI’s which is still unacceptable, but we need positive movement, and this is how we start.”

Over the last year, we have already rolled out several initiatives aimed driver safety.  

1. Enhanced Driver Training – We have reinforced our driver safety programs with required defensive driving courses to ensure our employees are well-equipped to handle various road conditions and challenges.

2. Cone Policy – We require drivers to place safety cones behind their vehicles when parked, ensuring that the driver visibly inspects the area surrounding the vehicle before moving.

3. Fleet Safety Technology – Our company has invested in advanced vehicle safety technologies, including AZUGA devices to provide real-time feedback and enhance driver awareness.

4. Strict Adherence to Policies – We have revised and will reinforce our driving policies, including speed limits, seat belt usage, and restrictions on mobile device use while driving. Employees will be held accountable to these standards to maintain a culture of responsibility and safety.

5. Increased Awareness and Engagement – We continue to open every CWS staff meeting with a safety topic and discussion.  Employees are encouraged to share their experiences and best practices, including suggestions for reducing MVIs.

So what now?  In the coming months, we will focus on:

• A 33% reduction in overall MVI’s

• A 33% reduction in overall incident types

• Azuga scores of no less than 89% Company-wide

• All meetings with team members will begin with safety moment

• A post-accident review with managers to determine cause and mitigation efforts

• A TRIR/LTIR below industry average

There will be more to come on these throughout the year.  But, as always, continue to remember our Safety STAR initiative – Stop, Think, Act, and Review – to ensure that incidents are mitigated, and our employees make it home to their families at the end of the day.

Be safe out there!