Now more than ever, supply chain issues have highlighted our dependence on drivers to bring goods to our doorsteps. As commercial fleet and delivery drivers continue to spend longer hours on the road due to driver shortages, it’s important for them to be equipped with the right knowledge to avoid distracted driving.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers of commercial vehicles are six times more likely to get into an accident as a result of making a phone call on a cell phone while driving. Fleet managers have a duty to provide the proper tools and education to their drivers and to the public to prevent distracted driving.
Follow These Tips to Help Prevent Distracted Driving:
- Create a distracted driving policy and driver safety program. Regularly communicate about these programs via emails, blogs, and posters.
- Educate drivers about the risks of distracted driving and use real-life examples that show how dangerous this can be.
- Keep your organization’s handbooks up to date with rules and safety protocols, as well as disciplinary actions you’ll take in response to distracted driving.
- Have drivers sign a pledge form indicating that they’re aware of your policies and that they’ll implement safe driving practices.
- Tell drivers to get off the road and park if they need to use their phone or electronic device.
- Install lockboxes in vehicles for drivers to store cellphones, tablets, and other distractions.
- Use applications that detect when drivers are on the road and prevent incoming communication to a driver while the vehicle is in motion.
- Use driver monitoring programs, in-cabin camera systems, and telematics to evaluate drivers.
- Plan trips with drivers so that they have a clear understanding of the route. This can reduce dependency on GPS, which can be distracting.
- Manage schedules so that drivers get enough rest in between trips.
- Regularly perform safety audits that can give you a clear picture of how prevalent distracted driving risks are within your organization.
Distracted driving incidents impact fleets financially, legally, and reputationally, which is why fleet managers need to make sure they’re doing their part to promote best practices across their organizations. A single distracted driving accident costs an employer $72,442. It’s easy to see how distracted driving can quickly impact a business’s bottom line.
Managing distracted driving is harder now than ever before, and this is an issue that’s only likely to get worse.
Contact us today to ensure that you’re doing all you can to protect your drivers and organization from these risks and for a policy review to make sure you’ve got the best insurance policies in place for your particular needs.
DISCLAIMER
This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and was generated from information provided to BKS from the client and/or third-party sources. Therefore, BKS makes no warranty or representation(s) as to the accuracy or appropriateness of the data and/or the analysis herein. This information is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your tax, legal, and accounting advisors for those services.
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