By Michael Weston
The Irony of Safety: How We Prioritise Workplace Safety but Neglect Road Safety
It’s a common scenario: we spend hours in our workplace ensuring that every safety measure is in place. We wear hard hats, buckle up and follow strict protocols. Our workplaces are designed with safety as a priority—whether it’s ergonomic workstations, fire drills or safety signage. We understand that keeping ourselves safe at work is essential and most of us follow these precautions diligently. But here’s the irony—when it comes to driving to work, many of us completely disregard the same principles of caution and awareness.
Why is it that we can be so safety-conscious at work but let our guard down on the road? For starters, driving often feels routine, even mundane. People may think, “It’s just a quick drive” or “I’ve done this route a hundred times”. This overconfidence leads to risky behaviors like speeding, texting behind the wheel or driving while fatigued. We ignore the very real dangers that can arise in a split second, from distracted driving to road rage.
There’s a sense of detachment when we drive. Unlike a workplace where we are surrounded by colleagues and supervisors, the road is a more isolated space. This detachment can breed carelessness, as we don’t feel as accountable to others as we would in a work setting.
The truth is, road safety should be given the same level of attention and focus as workplace safety. Whether it’s buckling up, following speed limits or putting down the phone, the same mindset that helps us stay safe at work needs to be applied to our daily commute. After all, our lives and the lives of others on the road deserve as much care and caution as the equipment and machinery we handle at work.
As we push for better workplace safety, let’s not forget the importance of being responsible and safe behind the wheel.
