Safety Speaker Insight – Sometimes We Fear the Wrong Hazard

As a safety speaker between trips, I sit looking at my backyard which has been incredibly landscaped by my wife I was thinking that over 400 people or more would not survive Memorial Day or any other holiday weekend. Because I fly so often I am also reminded that people often fear the wrong hazard. I suspect the majority of fatalities this weekend will happen on the roadways. At the same time thousands of people will take airplanes to get to their desired locations. As a frequent flyer in the highest elite category I spend many hours flying. I like meeting the people on my flights and I will often ask them where they are going. Often in the conversation they may mention they are afraid of flying. I also hear this from people in my audience during breaks or while I am doing a book signing. People ask me how as an international safety speaker I can stand flying so much and am I ever afraid.

It fascinates me no one ever asks me am I afraid to drive to my presentations. I don’t know anyone who has told me they were afraid of driving. The reality is people should be much more afraid of driving as the likelihood of their being injured is much greater when they climb in a car than when they board an airplane. The hazard on the road is much greater and we must drive defensively 100% of the time.

In recent years the hazard has become larger because of our technology. As a safety speaker I suspect one of the most commonly violated laws are the ones regarding cellular phone use. In California we have a law that now says your cellular phone must be mounted while you drive. This way there can be no argument with police that you weren’t texting because if your phone was in your hand you are in violation. Even with this clearly defined law I would say the majority of cars I pass during rush hour have people holding their phone. That means I am surrounded by drivers who aren’t giving their full attention to the task at hand. That should scare everybody but it doesn’t.

Because it doesn’t scare people they don’t necessarily take the defensive driving precautions they should. We need to remind people the biggest hazards facing them are often appear to be the least threatening.

Most of you will receive this after Memorial Day and I hope you enjoyed your break and I especially hope everyone you know survived this weekend. Be safe and call me when you need to help people work safely on and off the job.

When you need solutions for your safety challenges give Diane Weiss a call at 209-745-9419 and bring safety speaker John Drebinger to your site to discover injury preventing solutions. You can email her at diane@drebinger.com
Until next week,
I’ll be, “Watching Out For Everyone’s Safety™”
John
© 2017 John Drebinger Presentations
Permission to use granted when credited and contact information included. www.drebinger.com +1 209.745.9419