Curbing Distracted Driving Begins with a Dedication to Schooling and Enforcement

This submit is a part of a collection sponsored by IAT.

Solely 2.5% of individuals can successfully multitask even in the perfect circumstances.^[1] That’s not nice odds in case you’re multi-tasking behind the wheel of a business automobile.

When multi-taskers get behind the wheel, the ramifications can turn out to be lethal. 9 folks in the USA are killed on daily basis due to distracted driving^[2].

Something that takes time and a spotlight away from the street contributes to distracted driving, together with texting, consuming and emailing. A multi-faceted method to finish this apply requires enforcement and dedication from all drivers — people to business fleet carriers.

Making an actual dedication to security

The Federal Motor Provider Security Administration has strict insurance policies in place concerning cell phone utilization, together with civil penalties for drivers as much as $2,750 and driver disqualification for a number of offenses. Additionally they positive employers as much as $11,000 in the event that they knowingly enable or require drivers to make use of hand-held gadgets whereas driving.^[3] However, it hasn’t made an affect on the general numbers.

As an alternative, reversing the distracted driving epidemic requires an actual cultural change agent, like what the Moms Towards Drunk Driving (MADD) initiative did for drunk driving. What started with one mom on a mission has successfully diminished drunk driving deaths by 50% since 1980.^[4]

Fleet carriers should become involved with sharing the dangers of distracted driving to assist save lives on the street. Creating inside insurance policies and practices is a important first step. When doing so, companies have two choices: to ban, or to strongly discourage distracted driving.

4 finest practices for fleet carriers

The way forward for your fleet depends on drivers remaining targeted and protected on the roads. If the unthinkable occurs and there’s a crash, you will need to have a defensible coverage in place.

Listed here are 4 methods to guard your enterprise from claims and maintain your drivers from being distracted:

1. Use emotion to drive dwelling the stakes. Sharing private tales was a method MADD diminished fatalities. Make use of a technique that features private testimony from an worker concerning the results of distracted driving or host somebody who has instantly been affected by distracted driving to talk to your drivers.
2. Educate and practice with correct info. In a latest survey on transportation threat, one-third of respondents reported they don’t have teaching programs on the harms of distracted driving or tricks to keep away from these practices for his or her drivers.^[5] When given correct, real looking info, drivers will make the correct alternative. Create a distracted driving program that raises consciousness.
3. Implement insurance policies in place. In Hartford, Connecticut, driver cellular phone use was diminished by 6.8% to 2.9% over three years by imposing utilization legal guidelines with the assistance of police.^[6] Don’t simply have a no telephone coverage, however reprimand publicly when incidents happen and incentivize adherence.
4. Use telematics and in-cab cameras. “Belief however confirm” is essential for driver security. Recording driver actions will be important if a collision does happen to show there was no unsuitable motion. Going a step additional and utilizing telematics proactively can alert dispatch when a driver is on their telephone or in any other case breaking distracted driving insurance policies. As a fleet provider, you will need to use this knowledge to observe and enhance driver conduct proactively to cut back legal responsibility.

Taking steps to forestall distracted driving exhibits your dedication to holding everybody protected on the street protected. Committing to enforcement is essential to cut back legal responsibility and guarantee drivers are specializing in security day by day.

Contact IAT for extra info on methods to create a program to forestall distracted driving and cut back threat.

[1] The Science Instances “Science Shows Multitasking Doesn’t Work,” July 2020.

[2] U.S. Division of Transportation Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration “Traffic Safety Facts Research Note: Distracted Driving 2019,” April 2021.

[3] FMCSA, “Distracted driving.”

[4] MADD, “About Us.”

[5] FleetOwner “Post-pandemic distracted driving a surging concern, survey shows,” April 2022.

[6] Chaudhary, N.Okay., Casanova-Powell, T.D., Cosgrove, L., Reagan, I., & Williams, A. (2012). Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration. Evaluation of NHTSA Distracted Driving Demonstration Projects in Connecticut and New York pdf iconexternal icon(DOT HS 811 635). U.S. Division of Transportation, Washington, DC.

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