 There are lots of different workplaces in construction sites, offices, and farms. But the most dangerous workplace is your vehicle. Because driving is a job all on its own, your mind has to take in speed conditions, pedestrians, and more. So adding other tasks like making calls or eating meetings, can divert your attention from the road and have serious consequences. Today we're going to cover three important aspects of safe driving for work-basic safety, avoiding distractions, and creating safety policies. Let's get started. Lots of Montanans drive for work, even if it's just going across town for a meeting. In all cases, safety matters. Start by looking your vehicle over to make sure everything's in good working order. If your car is a rental or a fleet vehicle that's unfamiliar to you, take a minute and locate the controls for lights, wipers, and cruise control, and adjust the seat and mirrors. Looking good. Now, what next? You're so smart. In Montana, more than half of all fatalities and serious injuries from crashes involve people not buckled in properly. So be sure to buckle up. There are a few more safety tips. Follow speed limits, and watch for changing conditions. Pull over if you feel drowsy, and never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Now, on to distractions. I said on to distractions. Multitasking may be part of your job, but not when that job includes driving. Any kind of distraction on the road increases your odds of being in a crash by 2, 3, or even 9 times. That's because there are three basic reaction components to driving that can be affected by distractions the time it takes you to perceive a situation, the time it takes you to act on that information, and the time it takes for your vehicle to complete the response. Put the distraction down, because even a split second delay in your reaction time could be bad for all involved. In many communities, you can be ticketed for distracted driving, but being attentive starts with you pulling over before using your phone or typing on navigational tools. On longer trips, allow time in your travel plans to stop and eat, and keep items that might tempt you in the trunk and the things you may need, like sunglasses. Handy cool. The last thing to remember about driving safety like any safety issue, it needs to become part of your culture. Develop specific policies around wearing seatbelts, phone use, and eating. Orient new employees to those policies specifically, and hold coworkers and employees accountable by speaking out when you see an infraction. Do all that and it won't matter where you are.