Reduce Risks of Vehicle Operations

Ensuring the safe and effective operation of vehicles is essential to the member’s ability to continue to serve the public and protect employees. Risks range from safety and legal compliance to liability and coverage issues.

It is incumbent upon MCIT members to focus on strategies to reduce the risks related to the operation of their vehicles.

‘Essentials of Risk Management for Motor Vehicles’ Guide

The guide Essentials of Risk Management for Motor Vehicles provides an overview of several key risks of motor vehicle use for local public entities and provides strategies members can use to manage and minimize them. The guide is broken into these categories of discussion:

• Federal and state statutory requirements related to motor vehicle use:
  • Driver’s licenses
  • Vehicle registration
  • Public vehicle identification
  • Insurance
  • Political subdivision tort liability
  • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
  • Mandatory safe practices, behaviors
  • Motor vehicle inspections
  • Minnesota motor vehicle incident report
• Coverage provided through MCIT
  • Auto coverage definitions
  • Importance of scheduling vehicles
  • Auto liability coverage
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
  • Care and custody of others’ autos (garagekeepers coverage)
  • Physical damage coverage
  • Shared, borrowed and hired autos
  • Personal use of member-owned vehicles
  • Personal vehicles used for member business
  • Auto coverage exclusions
• Safety best practices
  • Vehicle design and safety technology
  • Vehicle and driver readiness
  • Defensive driving
  • Hazardous driving conditions
  • Deer-vehicle collisions
  • Backing into incidents
• Duties members have after a loss, including an explanation of the claim process
  • Steps after an auto incident
  • Reporting automobile incidents
  • MCIT claims team and process

When appropriate, references to additional resources have been included to help manage risks associated with motor vehicle use.

Vehicle Incident Kit

The vehicle incident kit includes a vinyl pocket in which fit: 

	Incident record forms: These can be competed at an auto incident scene to detail the situation.
	The auto coverage identification card: This fits in the pocket that holds the incident record forms.
	Vehicle incident courtesy cards: These should be completed by the member’s driver and given to the other driver involved in the incident.

The kit is easily kept in a vehicle’s glove compartment. Drivers are encouraged to supplement details on the incident record form with photos from the scene if possible. When a vehicle is removed from a member’s fleet, the incident vehicle kit should be moved to the replacement vehicle and the coverage identification card updated for the new vehicle.

Members can order vehicle incident kits by contacting MCIT at info@mcit.org or 1.866.547.6516.

Risk Management Consultants Offer More Insights

Members are encouraged to contact their MCIT risk management and loss control consultants at 1.866.547.6516 with questions regarding vehicle use from a risk management and safety perspective. 

More Resources

• Quick Takes on Safety short training scripts and handouts related to driving concerns
• Deer-vehicle collision awareness and prevention materials
• Defensive driving training
• Minnesota Safety Council