The United States Postal Service® (USPS®) delivery network is the most efficient in the world. We want customers to have positive experiences with us, associate positive attributes to us, and believe that the Postal Service™ is the best, safest option for their mail delivery needs. USPS connects senders and receivers through the physical delivery of mail and packages — the heart of what we do, ultimately, is delivering. This concept is a powerful one, keeping our employees and customers safe, as we Deliver for America.
When an employee is involved in an accident, USPS bears the cost of the accident, directly and indirectly, because of its impact on the well-being of our employees and customers. Whether you manage a fleet of vehicles and drivers, oversee a mobile sales force, or drive yourself, learning more about the driver safety program can help reduce the risks associated with a Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA).
Using accident data and analysis, USPS identified the primary causes of MVAs:
n Failure to check clearance.
n Inattention or distraction.
n Haste.
n Improper backing up.
n Failure to yield right-of-way.
Additionally, the top five MVA accident path causes nationally include:
n Straight ahead.
n Vehicle backing up.
n Vehicle stopped.
n Left turn/right turn.
n Vehicle pulling to or from the curb/mailbox.
In the coming months, USPS will promote not only safe driving principles and practices for our employees, but a customer-focused messaging campaign as well. This new campaign, titled “Be Cautious and Aware,” is intended to help reduce MVAs and keep our employees and customers safe.
The Postal Service can reduce MVAs with training and by emphasizing the importance of basic safe driving practices. By doing so, we not only reduce our accident counts, but also ensure that our employees feel prepared for their jobs. Employees are our most valuable assets. Workplace driver safety programs not only make good business sense, but also engage and empower employees.
The goal of motor vehicle safety is to keep our drivers and those with whom they share the road safe. By changing attitudes about driving behavior and improving driving skills, the Postal Service can create and sustain a safety culture where everyone understands that “Safety Depends on Me.”
For more information, see the following driver safety-related resources:
n Safety Depends on Me videos: blue.usps.gov/corpcomm/uspstv/safety-and-health/welcome.htm.
n Handbook EL-804, Safe Driver Program: blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/hand/el804.pdf.
n Handbook EL-814, Postal Employee’s Guide to Safety: blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/hand/el814.pdf.
n Handbook EL-801, Supervisor’s Safety: blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/hand/el801.pdf.
n Informed Mobility Safety Observation Tool (IMSOT).
n National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimate-2021-traffic-fatalities.
n PS Form 4584, Observation of Driving Practices: blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms/ps4584.pdf.
n Delivery Management System (DMS): dms.usps.gov/page/login.
n National Safety Council: nsc.org/road.
— Occupational Safety and Health,
Human Resources, 1-12-23
