Motor Vehicles (Driving Safety)
In the United States, more than 2,400 people die every year due to on-the-job vehicular crashes. In Washington, fatal motor vehicle traffic collisions are the leading cause of work-related deaths. From 1998 to 2009, more than 200 Washington State workers died following on-the-job motor vehicle collisions.
Unlike many workplaces, roadways can be unpredictable and safe driving requires your full attention. For this reason, cell phone use or texting while driving should be avoided and, in most situations, is illegal in the State of Washington.
Speeding, unsafe lane changes and a lack of knowledge about the vehicle, as with rental or fleet vehicles, are among the common causes of work-related motor vehicle crashes.
If you drive for work, you should never drive while tired or impaired by drugs or alcohol. Get plenty of rest before driving, always wear a seatbelt, set realistic goals on the number of miles you can drive safely each day and avoid aggressive driving.
Review the rules on this page and use the listed resources to keep your employees safe and working.
Rules
General Rules
- Motor Vehicles (Chapter 296-865, WAC)
Rules for Specific Activities or Workplaces
- Construction & Motor Vehicles (WAC 296-155-600)
- Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks, Agriculture (WAC 296-307-520)
- Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks, General (WAC 296-863)
- Log Trucks (WAC 296-54-589)
- Logging (WAC 296-54-521)
- Motor Vehicles (WAC 296-865)
- Transportation Labeling, Retain Department of (WAC 296-62 Part C-1)
- Transportation of Explosive Materials (WAC 296-52 Part D)
- Vehicles and Farm Field Equipment, Agriculture (WAC 296-307 Part E)
Policies
Cone Setting Requirements (WRD 6.55)- Traffic Control and Flagging Operations (WRD 27.20)
Videos
Please read an important message about videos in the DOSH Safety & Health Video
Library.
Important:
Some videos may contain code violations or information inconsistent with Washington State's Safety & Health rules.
Many commercially produced safety and health videos are based on Federal OSHA Standards. Federal OSHA standards may not be as stringent as the Washington State Industrial Safety and Health Standards. Every effort has been made by the library to evaluate the videos before purchasing them. Safety and Health Standards may have changed since the time of purchase. The user assumes the responsibility of previewing the videos before showing and using it with a knowledgeable instructor.
See videos about these subjects:
Other Resources
Please read an important message about links on this page.
Important:
"Links" to other information sources are provided as a courtesy, but we cannot vouch for or take responsibility for information contained beyond files administered by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Links from this page do not represent or imply the endorsement of commercial products by the State of Washington, Labor and Industries, or by departmental staff. For more information, read L&I's Intended Usage policy.
- Concrete Finisher Driving Flatbed Truck Dies when Vehicle Leaves Road and Crashes (SHARP Fatal Narrative)
- Distracted Driving - OSHA Resources
- Distracted Driving (Washington State Traffic Commission "Target Zero" Publication)
- Equipment operator dies from rotating disc on excavator (DOSH Fatality Bulletin)
- FATAL FACTS: Fatal Work-Related Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in Washington State, 1998 - 2007
- Flagger Fatally Injured When Struck by a Car at a Highway Work Zone in Washington State (SHARP Fatal Narrative)
- Helpful Tool: Guidelines for Motor Vehicle Policies
- Interactive truck cab and trailer exit force simulation.
- Laborer Killed When Run Over by Reversing Dump Truck (SHARP Fatal Narrative)
- Road Rage (WSP)
- Rolling propane truck runs over driver (DOSH Fatality Bulletin)
- Trucking Safety publications from SHARP's TIRES project
- Worker killed by bulldozer (DOSH Fatality Bulletin)
