What Matters Most in Safe Driving
AEC is pleased to announce that two employees have been recognized as Outstanding Safe Driving Managers and two employees have received Outstanding Driver Awards.
“What is the most important thing when it comes to safe driving?”
When we asked the award recipients this question, their answers were surprisingly simple: “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
Keeping a safe following distance. Checking carefully with your own eyes. Allowing extra time when driving.
These may seem like simple habits, but practicing them consistently helps prevent accidents and protects not only ourselves, but also our colleagues and everyone who shares our roads and communities.
We spoke with the award recipients about the habits and principles that guide their approach to safe driving every day.
Representing AEC Every Time We Drive
We asked the employees recognized as Outstanding Drivers about the habits they practice every day.
One recipient explained:
“I try to drive with the flow of traffic and maintain sufficient distance from the vehicle ahead.”
After experiencing a close call during a lane change, the employee made a personal commitment to always perform a visual check and has followed that rule ever since.
The employee also shared a strong sense of responsibility when driving company vehicles:
“Whenever I drive a company vehicle with the AEC logo, I remind myself that I am representing the company. I make a conscious effort to be courteous to other drivers and to take extra care of the vehicle.”
Another recipient smiled as he explained that he only realized, through this award, that he had maintained a clean driving record for more than twenty years.
“I make a point of paying close attention to my surroundings and leaving enough space between vehicles. I adjust my speed to the traffic flow so I do not have to brake suddenly.
And above all, I avoid distractions such as looking away from the road or using my phone while driving. I believe that consistently doing the basics well is what matters most.”
Because his work often requires him to drive large company vehicles to job sites, he pays particular attention when turning, reversing, and parking, always checking the surrounding carefully and anticipating potential hazards.
Promoting Safety Is an Ongoing Responsibility
Outstanding Safe Driving Managers help foster a culture of traffic safety across the company through driver education, safety awareness, and ongoing communication.
One recipient reflected on the recognition, saying:
“The work of a Safe Driving Manager often goes unnoticed, so I am grateful that the efforts we have continued over the years have been recognized.”
At the same time, they acknowledged that fostering a strong safety culture within the organization is not easy.
“Encouraging safe driving isn’t always easy. It is not something that can be accomplished with a single message. We have to keep reinforcing the message until everyone recognizes that traffic safety is their own responsibility.”
AEC conducts monthly hazard prediction and traffic safety activities in cooperation with the Ginowan Police Department while continuing to promote safe driving awareness among employees from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
Individual Awareness Supports Safety
What stood out most during these interviews was that every recipient emphasized the same point: they are not doing anything extraordinary.
Safe driving does not depend solely on special skills or years of experience.
Carefully checking one’s surroundings, maintaining a safe distance, and allowing enough time when driving—putting these fundamentals into practice, one by one, are small actions that make a big difference in preventing accidents and creating safer workplaces and communities.
AEC will continue to uphold these principles and promote a culture of safe driving throughout the company.
[Related Article]
Aiming for Zero Accidents! AECʼs Traffic Safety Initiatives
https://www.aec-japan.co.jp/en/csr/1497/
