April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and if you’ve been out on our roads lately you understand why that’s so important. The simple fact is that not paying attention as you drive robs you of precious seconds – or even tenths of seconds – that can make the difference between a safe trip and a tragedy.
We’re not exaggerating there … distracted driving killed 3,275 people in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Needless to say, companies with vehicles on the road can face huge liabilities from distracted driving by their employees. That’s why it’s vital not only to understand the ground rules for safe driving, but to train and monitor your team.
The obvious culprit in our distracted driving epidemic is the mobile phone. While most states have laws prohibiting texting and handheld phone use, those laws seem to be lightly enforced and widely ignored.
Avoiding the distractions of cell phone use is mostly common sense (which is not so common these days): If you absolutely need to read or send a text before reaching your destination, safely pull over and come to a complete stop. If you have a passenger, give them the job of reading and responding to texts. Use an app like Android Auto or Apple Carplay that allows you to talk instead of texting (still a distraction, but one that keeps your eyes on the road).
Or simply recognize the addictive nature of our mobile devices and put your phone in the trunk, backseat or glove box before you leave. Whatever it is will wait.
Finally, understand that phones aren’t the only source of distracted driving. Eating, drinking, applying makeup, even adjusting the radio or GPS … all of these take your attention from the task at hand.
As the saying goes, when you’re behind the wheel you have one job: driving. Focusing solely on driving keeps your fellow travelers safer … and protects you from all those other distracted drivers.
Questions about safety for your organization? Contact Heart to Beat.
