Are you at Risk of Unnecessary Driving Fines?
The construction industry has a lot of risks and the safety of your employees when getting behind the wheel should be a top priority. You can’t assume that your employees know how to be safe drivers. Looking at driving habits when an accident occurs, or a near accident can sometimes be a little too late. The fact is that safe driving should be a concern day-in and day-out. Statistics show that driving to and from work is the most dangerous thing we do on a daily basis.
Contractors send their employees out on the road every day and they know it’s far too easy for anyone to become distracted at the wheel. Everything from texting to eating to even answering a call from the office can distract a driver’s attention from the road. And the possible repercussions from that moment of distraction can be serious and severe, including vehicle/property damage, injuries, and even death.
Avoiding Driving Fines
One of the first steps contractors can take to avoiding driving fines is establishing a written policy. Consider including the following in your policy: “Safe driving practices/rules that will help the company reduce the incidence of distracted driving; requirements for training all affected workers on the hazards associated with distracted driving and the contents of the company’s distracted driving reduction policy; and provisions that detail the disciplinary action that will be administered by the company when an affected worker violates the policy.” Keep in mind specific needs can vary depending on the state you’re in since passenger car driving laws are set at state and local levels. “In the state of Oregon it is illegal to talk on a cell phone unless you are using a hands-free device, and it is illegal to text,” Make sure your company’s driving policy is in line with state law. “Your company policy should be written clearly for your employees to understand and follow it for example if you do allow eating and drinking (nonalcoholic of course), but you do not allow texting and only allow talking on the phone if using a hands-free device. Also, if you need an employee to text or email something, they should know to wait until they reach the next job site or are pulled off the road and stopped.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.
Types of Distractions
- Texting
- Using a smartphone
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers
- Grooming
- Reading, including maps
- Using a navigation system
- Watching a video
- Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player
What to do Next
Because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction. The best way to end distracted driving and avoid driving fines is to educate all Americans about the danger it poses. To combat this huge problem smart contractors are fighting back with policies and training is focused at keeping employee’s eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
If you’re looking for a Custom Printed Safety Program for your company please contact Charlie Furst for details (800) 811-4125 ext 203
