Bergey’s Truck Centers Acquires Cumberland Truck
Bergey’s Truck Centers Acquires Cumberland Truck

Distracted Driving: Just Don’t

NSC-DistractedDriving
Distracted Driving has become an epidemic. All of us have been guilty at one point or another, when we thought something else might be more important at that instance than giving full attention to the road. But it never is. It can wait.

It is estimated that 365,000 people are injured every year due to distracted driving – that’s 1,000 people per day!

That is why the National Safety Council (NSC) dedicates the month of April as “Distracted Driving Awareness Month”. Bergey’s safety team had a month-long focus supporting this event and we wanted to share it with you. We should ALL be aware ALL the time, not just for one month.

distracted driving - hands-free mobile

Distracted Driving Facts

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), the NSC and SafetyNow have some great information to share with your team. This isn’t just for your drivers. It’s for everyone who gets behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. Anytime. Anywhere. Me, you, family, friends, neighbors. We all need to pay attention.
Did you know?

  1. Distracted driving occurs any time you
         •  Take your eyes off the road
         •  Take your hands off the wheel
         •  Take your mind off your primary task: driving safely
    Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash.
  2. Talking and texting on a phone are driving distractions. Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all the above distractions. Research shows that even hands-free phones are a distraction.
  3. Driving while talking or texting on a cell phone not only puts you at risk for an accident – it can also result in costly fines and insurance premium increases due to demerit points on your driver’s license.

STAts don’t lie

Don’t become a statistic. And be sure you are making your team aware of company safety expectations, so they don’t become one either.
Statistics show that roughly nine people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured daily in accidents that had at least one distracted driver according to accident reports.
Is it all phone-related? No, but for the most part it is. A 2019 survey of 2,000 people and their driving habits provides some interesting insights into the top reasons for distracted driving.

  • 37% of respondents aged 18 to 34 said they felt a high degree of pressure to respond to work-related messages while driving. This compares to a national average of 25% among all age groups – a percentage that is still too high.
  • Parents with young children were more likely to be distracted while driving (87%) than were adults with no small children (74%). Not a huge difference, but a statistic that should make you think twice about distracted driving – you or someone in the other car most likely has someone depending on them.
  • Many drivers admitted to taking photos while driving.

set company expectations

Make safety a priority for your company. Raise it up to leadership if you are not the one making the decisions. Eliminating distracted driving should be a priority for everyone. Make it a rule that your company does not condone distracted driving, be it from texting or talking on the phone. Ensure your team feels it is not only okay, but right to not respond when driving. Pull over or set up hands-free options when it is necessary. Basically, if it takes your attention away from the road, DON’T DO IT.

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SAFE TRAVELS!