It’s common knowledge that the number-one cause of work-related fatalities are vehicle accidents. Most companies have at least one truck, if not a whole fleet of vehicles―and their drivers face hazards of the roadway day after day. Sometimes a trip ends tragically.
Now, technology threatens to increase the accident potential for drivers—cell phones! All of your techs have them, and they use them throughout the day. Often, they’re using them while on the move from one job to the next.
According to one research study, use of a cell phone while driving increases the risk of having an accident four-fold. Another study found that having a cell phone in a vehicle increased the risk of being involved in an accident by 34 %. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports an increase in the number of complaints about drivers talking on their cell phones while operating a vehicle.
Reported Hazards Associated with Cell Phones:
- Users are said to be distracted from defensive-driving practices, and are less responsive to highway traffic situations. When they do react, their response time is said to be longer.
- People on the phone are more likely to have intense conversations that involve problem-solving—which is more distracting than shooting the breeze with a passenger.
- Passengers in the car often alert drivers to dangerous situation, and stop talking at such times; in contrast to someone on the other end of the line who is unaware of the traffic situation.
- Cell-phone users may be concentrating on dialing a number or handling the equipment and fail to notice a stop light, traffic sign, or a vehicle in front of them.
- Not only the driver on the phone, but other drivers on the roadway are at increased risk if a cell-phone user is the ultimate cause of an accident.
Today, many states have passed legislation making cell-phone usage illegal while driving. However, many states do NOT. Keep your team safe. Make a policy: If you must make a phone call or answer a call, you must pull over to the side of the road.
Too much is at stake over one cell-phone conversation: Damage to company vehicles, and more importantly, possible physical harm from an accident.
Be safe out there!