May 26, 2020
The pandemic has been disruptive, to say the least. By now, many organizations have altered their day-to-day to account for the world we’re living in, especially those that have a mobile workforce. With many of your mobile workers off the road and video conferences at an all-time high, what originally felt like a new frontier has settled into the rhythm of a regular week.
The silver lining is that this won’t last forever. But as Summer approaches and businesses’ availability grows, so do the dangers of increased distracted driving. The number of drivers on American highways increase around Memorial Day and stay that way until the end of the season. More traffic means a higher risk to drivers.
That’s why it’s important to know the facts and provide your mobile workers with the necessary tools to stay safe on the road.
The Current State of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is on the rise. In 2019 alone, 91% of American admitted to participating in distracted driving behavior. That behavior can range anywhere from using a mobile device, driving while fatigued, to speeding. Over half of the states have already implemented legislation to prohibit the use of a mobile device while driving. And that’s a great way to discourage distracted driving behavior. But people still drive with distractions.
It’s impossible to control an individual’s driving behavior. You can, however, ensure your employees know how to act in different situations. That knowledge can be the difference that mitigates a costly accident.
Why Now?
It’s always better to be over prepared than underprepared. As a majority of mobile workers are unable to drive at the moment, it’s the perfect opportunity to have them brush up on driver safety best practices. In fact, having a comprehensive driver safety program in place can reduce collisions by up to 35%. According to the National Safety Council, a driver safety program can provide other benefits including:
- Decreased traffic violations
- Minimized exposure to liability risks and legal costs
- Reduced insurance premiums and workers’ compensation claims
- Lower vehicle repair bills and replacement expenses
- Protection of brand identity and business operations
Plenty of those driver safety programs are also conducted online and it’s unlikely your mobile workers will ever spend this much time in front of a computer without traveling for a while. Use this opportunity to your advantage and give your employees the resources to drive safer and smarter.
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