Road traffic incidents are ranked by the World Health Organization among the top 10 causes of fatalities worldwide, and projections indicate that over the next decades this will rise, unless there is stronger commitment to road safety. According to reports from the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP), driving-related incidents are the single largest cause of fatalities in E&P operations.

Because Schlumberger employees and third-party contractors drive millions of miles per month on every terrain and in every condition imaginable in more than 85 countries, the company takes a serious approach to driving safety. Schlumberger is an acknowledged leader within the industry in managing driving safety risks, and its global driving safety program helps manage these risks through technology, journey management centers and ongoing training.

To further reinforce the company’s driving safety culture, Schlumberger initiated an awareness campaign to tie-in with the United Nations Global Road Safety Week; the theme for this year being children and road safety. Throughout the months of May and June, driving and road safety workshops were organized for employees and their families at Schlumberger locations around the world. 

The interactive sessions, designed to actively engage in the learning process, were based on material specifically developed for employees and their families from the Schlumberger HSE for Youth program on themes such as distracted driving, the importance of wearing seatbelts and fatigue management. A special focus was made on distracted driving to underscore the risks of talking on a cell phone or texting while operating a vehicle.

As part of the workshops, older children and their parents experienced the importance of using seat belts through a seat belt convincer crash simulator device. The device helps both drivers and passengers to better understand the forces of a low-speed crash and the benefits of wearing seat belts whenever a vehicle is in motion. 

Through learner-center materials, employees as well as their spouses and children gained understanding on how to become safer on the road—whether as pedestrians, cyclists, drivers or passengers.  The workshop participants were also encouraged to share these important road safety messages with their friends and how they can foster safe behavior with others.