Motor Vehicle Safety: ANSI/ASSP Z15.1 & ISO 39001

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average American driver spends 61.3 minutes per day behind the wheel, which equates to roughly 17,600 minutes driving each year. Further, in 2022, there were 5,930,496 police-reported motor vehicle crashes in the United States, which included 42,514 fatal crashes. Since Americans spend a large amount of time in motor vehicles, it is paramount to assure the safe operation of motor vehicles, and implementing a road traffic safety management (RTS) program does just that. Essentially, the intent of an RTS program is to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured.

Car Accident Statistics

Here are a few car accident statistics that will give a general idea about the rate and impact of motor vehicle accidents:

The average person will likely crash their car 3 to 4 times in a lifetime.
52% of accidents happen within 5 miles of a person’s home, and 77% occur within 15 miles. If you talk on the phone while driving, you increase your chances of getting into a car accident by 400%; distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents in the United States.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children under the age of 15 in the United States.
On average, 1 pedestrian dies from a crash every 88 minutes in the United States.

The statistics may induce fear and panic, however, that is why standards exist: to assure safety. ANSI/ASSP Z15.1-2024 and ISO 39001:2012 both aim to increase safety on the road and thus greatly minimize road traffic crashes or other road traffic incidents.

What Is ANSI/ASSP Z15.1?

ANSI/ASSP Z15.1-2024 sets forth practices for the safe management and operation of motor vehicles owned, operated, or used by organizations. The American National Standard covers specifications for the development of policies, procedures, and management processes to control risks associated with the operation of motor vehicles, and it applies to licensed or permitted motor vehicles designed to be operated primarily on public roads. This document provides the following:

Definitions
Management, leadership, and administration
Operational environment
Driver considerations
Vehicle considerations
Incident reporting and analysis

These practices specified in ANSI/ASSP Z15.1-2024 are designed for use by those having the responsibility for the administration and operation of motor vehicles for organizational business.

What Should a Motor Vehicle Safety Program Include?

According to ANSI/ASSP Z15.1-2024, a written motor vehicle safety program should include the following elements:

Safety policy
Responsibilities and accountabilities
Driver recruitment, selection, and assessment
Organizational safety rules
Orientation and training
Reporting rates and major incidents to executives
Communications
Vehicle specifications
Inspection and maintenance
Reward and recognition
Regulatory compliance management
Management program audits

ANSI/ASSP Z15.1-2024 additionally specifies that organizations should establish a formal safety policy that affirms the organization’s commitment to the health and well-being of drivers throughout the organization. The standard details that the policy should establish the expectation that drivers comply with all aspects of the organization’s vehicle safety program, as well as obey applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations as they relate to vehicle operations. Ultimately, drivers should be cognizant that their primary responsibility while driving is the safe operation of the vehicle.

What Is ISO 39001?

ISO 39001:2012 specifies requirements for a road traffic safety (RTS) management system to enable an organization that interacts with the road traffic system to reduce death and serious injuries related to road traffic crashes which it can influence. The requirements in ISO 39001:2012 include:

Development and implementation of an appropriate RTS policy
Development of RTS objectives and action plans, which take into account legal and other requirements to which the organization subscribes
Information about elements and criteria related to RTS that the organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence

What Does Successful Road Safety Management Look Like?

Traffic safety management represents a comprehensive approach to road users, transport infrastructure, and vehicles. Its successful implementation depends on sequential measures which fit into the following scheme: strategy–technology–education.

Further, ISO 39001:2012 details that successful implementation of a road traffic safety (RTS) management system depends upon commitment from all persons working for the organization or on its behalf, from strategic management to operational delivery staff. This commitment begins at the highest levels of the organization’s management, and top leadership can play their part by:

Motivating and empowering persons to contribute to the effectiveness of the RTS management system
Reinforcing organizational accountability for RTS results
Creating and maintaining the internal environment in which persons can become fully involved in achieving the organization’s RTS objectives and leading by example

ANSI/ASSP Z15.1-2024: Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations (digital only) and ISO 39001:2012—Road traffic safety (RTS) management systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use is available on the ANSI Webstore as well as in the following Standards Package: ANSI/ASSE Z15.1/ISO 39001-Road and Motor Vehicle Safety Package.