Travelers: Businesses Need Strict Distracted Driving Policies
By Don Stacom, The Hartford Courant | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
In its recent survey of business customers, only 27 percent reported having -- and strictly enforcing -- a formal policy against distracted driving, the company said.
"Employees who drive for work often feel pressure to respond to emails and phone calls, especially from their manager," said
As part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Travelers recently put out the word to 24,000 business customers that companies are at significant risk when their employees are behind the wheel but not paying attention. The insurer also gave a webinar for business managers about strategies to keep workers off their cell phones when they're driving.
Often, companies with workers driving while distracted don't recognize they're in jeopardy, Travelers said.
"The companies that we see at risk are often the companies that don't think they have a fleet. Employers may hire someone to work in sales or as a service technician, but in reality that person may spend their entire day driving," Hayes said. "Because we don't think of these employees as drivers, some companies don't understand the risks associated with driving and may have less formal, or nonexistent, driver policies."
In addition to the suffering and other human costs of crashes, there's a financial component that companies should know about, Travelers said. In its campaign, the insurer cites a
When asked, Travelers said it has its own formal, written policy for adjustors, sales representatives and all other employees who drive as part of their job. It doesn't publicly share the document, citing privacy. But the insurer promotes a four-stage system for any businesses that have employees on the road:
Develop a written policy against driving while using cell phones or tablets or allowing other distractions. Apply the rules to everyone in the organization, including senior executives.
Get that policy out to all employees repeatedly, and require all who drive as part of their job to sign a statement saying they understand the rules and will follow them.
Ensure that managers put off conversations with employees who are on the road until they're safely parked.
Direct managers to encourage safe driving practices.
Texting is one of the worst distractions, Travelers emphasized, because drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of almost 5 seconds when reading a message. At 55 mph, that amounts to a driver going the length of a football field with eyes closed.
The
In October, the insurer is convening a symposium at it claims facility in
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