This submit is a part of a sequence sponsored by IAT.
Solely 2.5% of individuals can successfully multitask even in one of the best circumstances.[1] That’s not nice odds when you’re multi-tasking behind the wheel of a business automobile.
When multi-taskers get behind the wheel, the ramifications can grow to be lethal. 9 individuals in america 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 observe requires enforcement and dedication from all drivers — people to business fleet carriers.
Making an actual dedication to security
The Federal Motor Service 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. In addition they tremendous employers as much as $11,000 in the event that they knowingly permit 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 In opposition to Drunk Driving (MADD) initiative did for drunk driving. What started with one mom on a mission has successfully lowered drunk driving deaths by 50% since 1980.[4]
Fleet carriers should get entangled with sharing the dangers of distracted driving to assist save lives on the street. Creating inner insurance policies and practices is a crucial first step. When doing so, companies have two choices: to ban, or to strongly discourage distracted driving.
4 greatest practices for fleet carriers
The way forward for your fleet depends on drivers remaining targeted and secure on the roads. If the unthinkable occurs and there’s a crash, it’s essential to have a defensible coverage in place.
Listed below are 4 methods to guard your corporation from claims and maintain your drivers from being distracted:
- Use emotion to drive dwelling the stakes. Sharing private tales was a technique MADD lowered fatalities. Make use of a technique that features private testimony from an worker concerning the results of distracted driving or host somebody who has immediately been affected by distracted driving to talk to your drivers.
- Educate and practice with correct info. In a current survey on transportation danger, one-third of respondents reported they don’t have education schemes 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 fitting alternative. Create a distracted driving program that raises consciousness.
- Implement insurance policies in place. In Hartford, Connecticut, driver cellphone use was lowered 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.
- Use telematics and in-cab cameras. “Belief however confirm” is essential for driver security. Recording driver actions could be important if a collision does happen to show there was no fallacious 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 service, it’s essential to use this information to watch and enhance driver habits proactively to cut back legal responsibility.
Taking steps to forestall distracted driving reveals your dedication to protecting everybody secure on the street secure. Committing to enforcement is essential to cut back legal responsibility and guarantee drivers are specializing in security every day.
Contact IAT for extra info on find out how to create a program to forestall distracted driving and cut back danger.
[1] The Science Instances “Science Exhibits Multitasking Doesn’t Work,” July 2020.
[2] U.S. Division of Transportation Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration “Visitors Security Info Analysis Word: Distracted Driving 2019,” April 2021.
[3] FMCSA, “Distracted driving.”
[5] FleetOwner “Submit-pandemic distracted driving a surging concern, survey reveals,” April 2022.
[6] Chaudhary, N.Ok., Casanova-Powell, T.D., Cosgrove, L., Reagan, I., & Williams, A. (2012). Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration. Analysis of NHTSA Distracted Driving Demonstration Initiatives in Connecticut and New York pdf iconexternal icon(DOT HS 811 635). U.S. Division of Transportation, Washington, DC.
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