Stay Safe With Distraction Free Driving

Gary Smith for AAM BlogWRITTEN BY GARY SMITH, APARTMENT BUILDING MANAGEMENT WORKERS COMPENSATION SELF INSURED FUND

Smart employers focus on safe driving education and training as a fundamental method to prevent workplace injuries. In this article, we will focus on the role that distraction-free driving plays in keeping employees out of harm’s way.

How do motor vehicle crashes affect workplace safety?
According to OSHA, the leading cause of worker fatalities year after year are motor vehicle crashes. Distracted driving dramatically increases the risk of such crashes. Texting while driving greatly increases the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. In 2011, as reported by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver. Additionally, 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2011. The World Health Organization reports that traffic crashes are a leading cause of occupational fatalities in many countries, leading to substantial human and financial losses for companies and organizations. So, distracted driving is not unique to just one group, industry or country. Rather, this human behavior occurs across all groups, industries and countries.

What is distracted driving?
Distracted driving consists of three main types:

• Visual – taking your eyes off the road;
• Manual – taking your hands off the wheel; and
• Cognitive – taking your mind off of driving.

Distracted driving activities include using a cell phone, texting, eating, drinking, grooming, adjusting a radio/CD/MP3 player, etc. Even using in-vehicle technologies, such as navigation systems, can become a source of distracted driving. While any of these distractions can endanger the driver and others, texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three types of distraction. Consider that the minimal amount of time your attention is taken away from the road when you’re driving is 5 seconds. If you’re traveling at 55mph, this equals driving the length of a football field without looking at the road. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, it’s the same as driving blind for 5 seconds at a time! Distraction-free driving requires attention to relevant activities and information.

What can be done right now to specifically promote distraction-free driving in your workplace?
Here are recommended actions you can take right now:

  • Download the documentary, It Can Wait, at www.itcanwait.com and have all employees view it. This is a powerful documentary that provides many with an internal motivation to change their behaviors while behind the wheel.
  • Download the FREE Employer Cell Phone Policy Kit from the National Safety Council, review it and implement it. Your policy must be clear and clearly communicated to all.
  • Provide frequent reinforcement by presenting updated facts and new videos during monthly safety meetings.
  • Involve employees’ and their families to show care and to create even greater change in employee behavior. Send a letter directly to employee’s at home about the It Can Wait documentary. Be genuine in your efforts!

Remember that safety education and training is a process. Begin today because every day counts!

For additional assistance with promoting distraction-free driving, please contact Gary Smith, CRM, at (517) 338-3367 or Gary.Smith@cmi-yorkrsg.com.

References:
National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) – Free Employer Cell Phone Policy Kit
Texting and Driving – It Can Wait (www.itcanwait.com)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Distracted Driving (www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving)
Distraction.gov (www.distraction.gov)

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