Distracted driving: Safety group wants employer and government action
September 25, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: cell phones and safety, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Safety training, Transportation safety, What do you think?
PDF The American Society of Safety Engineers is calling on safety pros to support efforts to cut down on distracted driving since the leading cause of workplace fatalities is motor vehicle crashes.
In its Position Statement on Distracted Driving in Motor Vehicles, ASSE calls on its members and other safety professionals to:
- encourage and support employer rules banning any employee use of electronic devices while driving
- support proposed public laws and regulations that effectively limit the use of electronic devices while driving, and
- back improved driver education that includes the risks of distracted driving and ways to avoid such risks.
ASSE’s views about distracted driving aren’t limited to cell phone use. It says, “The same safety risks posed by cellular phones also hold true for a vehicle operator who drives in an unsafe manner while eating, drinking, putting on makeup, reading a newspaper, operating any other electronic device, or some other type of distracting activity where the driver’s mind, eyes, and hands are engaged elsewhere than the road ahead and the steering wheel.”
ASSE cites various studies to make its point that distracted driving isn’t limited to electronic device use.
A Carnegie Mellon University study shows brain power used while driving decreases by 40% when a driver listens to conversation or music. A Nationwide Mutual Insurance study found 80% of drivers admit to blatantly hazardous behavior including changing clothes, steering with a foot, painting nails and shaving.
Does your company have a policy on employees and distracted driving? Do you think it’s a good idea to support laws banning use of cell phones while driving? Should those bans also cover other types of distracted driving? What are some examples you’ve seen of distracted driving? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
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Tags: ASSE, cell phones and driving, distracted driving, driver education, motor vehicle crashes
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September 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I definitely support employer rules banning distracted driving. However, I think the federal government needs to stay out of the issue. Insurance companies and the individual states need to take up the issue and develope thier own rules and laws to ensure safe drivers stay safe. Unsafe drivers are going to keep driving the same way until they have thier own close encounters with the grim reaper.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Absolutely. Keep the government out. We need to get back to personal responsibility and community involvement.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Communication with drivers (whether trucking/sales/emergency veh., etc) is huge factor all geared towards benefiting the end user. Efficiency in various forms ultimately saves dollars for all involved. Customers demand faster delivery and look for cheaper costs. Transportation departments have responded - the ones that havent are probably on their way out of business. Do we really want 20-30% of the traffic pulling on shoulders or trying to get back onto roadways in order to avoid using communication equipment while driving?
Like all other driving skills - the driver is responsible. Distracted driving ticket could lead to dismissal from work. The driver has to make the “call” on whether they can talk at the time. They make these decisions 100′s of times each day in their normal driving duties.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I don’t know about an employer trying to govern the behavior and conduct of it’s employees off the clock. I also don’t know about the government getting involved at all. If insurance companies placed clauses in their contracts about the use of cell phones vs. handsfree and other unsafe practices voiding coverage maybe people would be more inclined to pull off the road to take that “important call.”
September 28th, 2009 at 11:03 am
The increase to disposal drivers is out side the vehicle dumpimg containers. They are wearing ANSI 2 refletive vests or shirts, hoopers are painted bright yellow,LED lighting flashers are used and red and white refletive tape on sides and hoopers.Vehicle pulled as close to curb as possible and still we are losing drivers and drivers are losing their lives.This is a distraction not needed we surveyed very will with out cell phones before and can again. Hang Up and Drive”
September 28th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
“A Carnegie Mellon University study shows brain power used while driving decreases by 40% when a driver listens to conversation or music.”
*********
I disagree with the contention that a driver loses THAT MUCH brain power while listening to somebody in the car talk or while listening to the radio. I function just fine while listening to/talking with someone in the car or when a great song is on. I’d like to know where Carnegie Mellon came up with this data.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
The ASSE didn’t call on this member. We don’t need more government intrusion into our lives. The ASSE needs to define exactly what a “distraction” is. Do they suggest that I receive a ticket for conversing with others in the driver’s compartment? How about when I am reading the plethora of advertising billboards along our nation’s highways? Let’s look to the individual driver to take responsibility for their own actions not the nanny state. KEEP GOVERNMENT (ASSE boobs) out of our lives.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
On more than one occasion I have had to avoid some other driver who was too busy talking on a cell phone to pay attention to where the hell they were driving. I say anyone who uses a cell phone while driving is asking for trouble and should have their phone confiscated and pay a hefty fine. If you need to talk do it on your time, not on my highway!
September 28th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
As member of the ASSE and a father who did not allow his 2 children to have a cellphone until they were adults, I am am in full support of all legislation that deals with distracted driving.
In my home state of Iowa, we are dealing with so many teenage deaths from distracted driving that it has become an epidemic.
Remember, driving is a privilege, not a right and those that show carelessness to others, let alone themselves, should have that privilege revoked.
September 28th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Our organization Stay Alive …. Just Drive! is a crash prevention, education, and awareness program aimed at promoting safe driving and curbing distracted driving.
The Carnagie Mellon study said ” talking on the cellphone while driving reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%, and yes this also pertains to hands-free. No reference was made to passengers (who are typically not a distraction but an additional set of eyes).
Visit us on the web: http://www.sajd.org to learn more about our internationally recognized effort.
We offer a comprehensive power point training CD and a DVD version.
Realistically, it’s all about personal responsibility. All the traffic laws on the books do little to alter driver behavior.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I absolutely agree that employers should have the responsibility to develop policies regarding distracted driving….not only to protect their employees and other drivers on the road, but to also protect themselves from lawsuits. I just attended a conference where the National Safety Council had some wonderful statistics regarding cell phones & distracted driving. Their statistics show that cell phone usage while driving is equivalent to a legal alcohol intoxication level.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
There are already plenty of laws on the books at the municipal, state & Federal level; i.e. reckless or careless driving. Whether you are playing with your 1000 watt boombox, satellite radio, shaving, putting on make-up or reading the paper, you are at much at risk as you are using your cell phone.
The question is SHOULD law enforcement crack down on reckless/distracted driving? (My favorite was taking the Ike into Chicago during rush hour and watching a lady do eye makeup in the car ahead of me and the man eating & shaving in the car next to me. Both were steering with their elbows and/or knees. More laws are NOT needed; just enforcement!
September 28th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I feel that alot of drivers have a sense of entitlement…Technology is a double edge sowrd, it can help lots but also cripple many. What is so importatant that cant wait 10 min that you have to have the phone posted next to your ear…. I do however agree that Civel servants Police, Fire, Paramedics and EMS should be exempt to this rule. The very nature of there jobs require them to have Cell phones. People just need to be more aware of the fact that driving distracted will sooner or later seriously change your life, maybe they should bring back the old driving videos like Red Asphault…but w/ a cell phone section, use the shock and awe effect………. just thinking out loud.
Thanks
September 28th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Cell phone use should be banned at each States’ level. As a FF/EMT-P I see motor vehicle crashes caused by cell phone use/distraction with increased frequency the past 10 to 14 years.
Also while responding to an emergency with Fire Engine or the Ambulance with sirens blaring & lights flashing, I often see civilian drivers oblivious to the approaching emergency vehicles because of cell phones in use. This just increases the hazards of an emergency response driving (code 3 driving) for the first responders. I do however agree with Gerarrdo; there are many situations where Police, Fire, & EMS personnel do need to use a cell phone while driving, these professionals already use the radio while driving on a regular basis. I don’t have any statistical numbers or the answers, but this just my observations and my opinion.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:30 am
When will you people realize you can not regulate stupidity. You can pass all the feel good rules and regulations you want and peopel will still break them. Forget giving exemptions to certain groups because of their jobs. They especially need to pay attention to their driving and not be chatting on telephone or using non esstial electronic devices.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:15 am
As the mother of a 17 year old that was killed in a head on collision because the “other” driver had to send a text message to her boyfriend while driving at 60 miles per hour it is quite obvious that
personal responsibility is not part of our culture anymore. Everyone is so fast to comment, walk one day in my shoes. Wake up people, it can happen to you. Government must step in , it may not
stop all, but it will save many lives.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
As the mother of an 18 year old daughter who was killed by a careless/wreckless adult driver(age 62)who drove through a steady red light at 45 to 55 mph while on her regular route to work at a job that she had been going to for years, no braking, no swerving, no attempt to stop at all, I completley agree with increasing law enforcement for distracted drivers. Buckle up, it’s the law, should be followed by hang up and drive, etc. There is some sort of stigma in our society that this is OK behavior. If I hear one more time that it was “just an accident”, I think I will lose my mind. The whole system failed my daughter. The other driver had a history of causing accidents including head on collisions. The other driver drove off the road into a sign for no apparent reason just 8 days before she murdered my child. We went through a criminal trial but the jury was sympathetic and found her not guilty of vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter. She was found guilty of two counts of wreckless endangerment. She didn’t just wrecklessly endanger my daughter, she murdered her. At sentencing the judge could have given her up to 4 years in jail but she did not receive even one day behind bars. We punish other “criminals” with much more time behind bars for writing bad checks. What’s wrong with this picture? The DMV should have revoked her driving “privelege” a long time ago, but no, I guess no one monitors driving records. If you can afford to pay fines and increased insurance, it’s OK, just keep driving. Go ahead murder an innocent child, alcohol is all you can be tested for, although my daughter had to be tested for every drug under the sun during her autopsy. Plead not guilty, a sleeze ball defense attorney will get the not guilty verdict you desire. Then when the judge is only allowed to revoke your driving privelege for four years, you can put in an appeal, because you still think you can and should drive. I agree, not many people take any kind of responsibility for their actions anymore. It has been almost three years since our tragedy and I still can’t believe how the criminal trial ended. Law enforcement needs to be given the ability to stop distracted driving. There needs to be some kind of tracking of bad/careless/wreckless drivers by the DMV country wide. Then these bad drivers need to be taken off the road. They need their driving “privlege” denied. And we as a society, when serving on a jury, we need to be aware that you are not allowed to know all the facts, information is withheld so as not to prejudice the verdict. Had the jury known of her prior 7 “documented” accidents, the verdict most likely would have been guilty. Criminals have all the rights, victims have little to none. The message to the public needs to be that you will be held accountable for your actions while driving!
September 29th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
“Rob Says:
September 28th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I don’t know about an employer trying to govern the behavior and conduct of it’s employees off the clock.”
Who said anything about “off the clock”. So, many read what they want into something. With regard to some other comments: Making exceptions for public servants is a dangerous slope. A lot of jobs require the driver to be in touch while working. Either all or none. No exceptions. I remember when someone convicted of domestic violence couldn’t own or carry a weapon and 30% of law enforcement had to be reassigned to desk duty. Can’t start making exceptions or excuses for certain classes of people, and law enforcement should be held to a higher standard not lower…
September 29th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I just want to add that I am not saying that it isn’t a problem, just that we can’t start making exceptions if we are going to make mandates. The act of reckless driving is already illegal. But, we can’t start outlawing certain behavior and then make exceptions for classes like law enforment, EMT’s etc. Many occupations can argue that it is necessary in thier line of work… I agree that teenagers lack the judgement skills to multi-task and maybe they should have laws aimed at them. But, existing laws regarding other/all risky behavior while driving should be enforced.
September 29th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I was side swiped just last month be a young man steering with his knee holding a cell phone in his left hand and turning down his radio with his right hand. If he had hit a lighter car with kids in it instead of my big work truck he would have pushed them in to traffic. He was sorry. How many will die before their hold drivers accountable for what their do?????
And drunk driving should be attempted murder or murder two if their kill someone.
Driving is a privilege not a right, start treating it like that (take it away).
October 5th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
This is getting WAY out of hand.
First, it makes sense that any distraction from the road brings with it a risk. However, staring blindly down a long road for hours and your mind will find a distraction (day dreaming). Eating, drinking, smoking, talking hands free, talking on a CB….good grief.
For those who want the government involved, they won’t be satisfied until the car is hard wired to our brain and it can check to see if we have had a good nights rest, are alcohol free, have no medications in our system, have a normal blood sugar level, and have attended church regularly, before you can start the car.
We would be better served by developing proximity alarms that would distract us BACK to the road when a hazard presents itself. But where is the fun in that? It is easier to dictate to others what they can or cannot do and feel justified. Doesn’t make us any safer and keeps us away from really making things safer.
October 5th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Anyone who allows themselves to drive distracted suffers from a medical condition commonly referred to as ” RECTALCRANIALINVERSION”.
We all need to ask ourselves is it worth the risk. Employers who don’t have a written policy that prohibits cell phone use and texting behind the wheel are leaving the door open for major liability and of course litigation.
October 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Words cannot express the sorrow we feel for those who lost a loved one to a distracted driver. (although it will never bring that son or daughter back, if criminal court fails to curb the drive, Civil court is available to get a settlement for ‘wrongful death’ and then use the proceeds to set up a memorial scholarship fund for the loved one). As has been noted - there are pletny of applicable laws out there already - we just need police (or in some states you & me via ;citizens’ arrest) to enforce & judges to get tough (remember that on judical elections and/or make it an issue to your Governor to appoint Judges whom will hand out stiff penalties for vehicular homicide)
October 7th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Not that our little heated discussion doesn’t matter anymore. I just received an interesting email thing this morning from the White House, Office of the Press Secretary. Enjoy…a forced down our throat Executive Order…
*****AFSPC SAFETY ALERT 10-01*****
Do not text while driving a motor vehicle
By Executive Order; military and government civilians will not text:
(1) While driving a GOV, or a POV while on official government business
(2) When using government-supplied electronic equipment while driving
“This makes sense all of the time”
For more details, see the hyperlink below:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Executive-Order-Federal-Leadership-on-Reducing-Text-Messaging-while-Driving/
“Practice safe driving skills by keeping your eyes on the road”
AFSPC/CV SENDS.