It’s back-to-school season, and students aren’t the only ones heading to the classroom. AAA Western and Central New York held Safety Rodeos for its Fleet staff in both Western New York and Central New York to proactively prepare technicians for challenges they may encounter on the roads. These educational events offer hands-on training for technicians, so that they are prepared to keep themselves and the public safe.

“The Safety Rodeos are important for the drivers to remind them about safe practices,” explained AAA Safety Manager Corally Munoz. “Drivers also have access to new QR codes, so they can easily report any safety hazard from the field, such as a leak. It’s quick and easy to report any hazards to AAA’s safety team.”

“The safety rodeo is for our drivers to practice road maneuvers, such as backing down a long narrow driveway off of a major road, as well as putting a focus on employee safety, member safety, and team safety,” explained Scott Swank, AAA Emergency Road Service Training Specialist, who works out of AAA’s Fleet Garage in East Syracuse. “It’s about self-awareness for themselves and the public.”

Part of the program was designed to help drivers reverse their trucks in tight spaces on closed obstacle courses, which were set up at AAA Fleet facilities in East Syracuse for CNY associates and in Cheektowaga for WNY associates.

“We like to host the Safety Rodeos annually. It’s a great opportunity for our drivers to get a little bit of a reminder on the finer points of driving and defensive driving. There’s more and more traffic on the road and we want to keep our drivers safe and the motoring public as well,” explained Kevin Fortner, AAA WNY Fleet Operations Associate Manager.

This year, Fortner noted, the rodeos also focused on public safety with naloxone and fire extinguisher training. “We want to make sure our folks are ready to respond to anything they come across,” he said. “Our drivers are on the road all day and all night, so they might be the first ones to find someone in a dire situation. We want to be ahead of things. We want to be the name in safety.”

“We urge other drivers to be mindful when they see our trucks and lights,” Swank added. “If you have the opportunity to either change lanes or just slow down, it will help keep our drivers safe on the roadside.”

With car crashes on the rise and roads becoming increasingly dangerous, AAA’s goal is to proactively protect both Fleet drivers and the public. As an advocate for traffic safety, AAA wants to ensure that its technicians are fully aware of the latest driving techniques. Studies show that such training is effective in giving drivers the experience they need to stay safe on the roads while also supporting the well-being of fellow motorists.