MENU
SEARCHFive seconds is the average time a person looks down at a cell phone to text or email — the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field at 55 mph with one's eyes closed.
Coach your fleet drivers on these four tips to reduce the safety risk caused by distraction in its myriad forms.
Screenshot via Travelers/YouTube.
Inattention is a factor in up to 25% of all vehicle crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distracted driving remains one of the most serious concerns on our roadways today.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, making it the ideal time to remind your drivers of the dangers of distracted driving as well as tips on how to avoid it.
Research shows that distracted drivers are two times to 48 times more likely to get into a collision. For example, texting, emailing or surfing the internet while behind the wheel increases the driver's chances of getting into an accident by 23 times. Moreover, cell phone use is reported in over 18% of distracted driving fatalities.
Remind your drivers of this fact: Five seconds is the average time a person looks down at a cell phone to text or email — the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field at 55 mph with one's eyes closed.
To avoid distracted driving, experts offer the following four tips.
Take the time to understand everything about your vehicle's systems before you start the engine so you are not struggling to figure out how to work something once the vehicle is in motion.
Whether it's the air conditioning, heated seats or a music play list, set it up before you hit the road.
The three kinds of distractions include:
Visual distractions: These are the distractions that make you take your eyes off the road such as inputting an address in the GPS, placing a call, or reading a text.
Cognitive distractions: This refers to anything that removes your mind from the task of driving, such as answering an incoming call, frustration with traffic or other drivers, or even daydreaming.
Manual distractions: This can be anything that requires you to take your hands off the wheel such as picking up something you drop, eating, grooming, or plugging in a power adapter.
Rubbernecking as you approach an accident, window-shopping as you pass a mall, looking at scenery, or searching for an address are all forms of distracted driving. To stay safe, make sure to avoid all of these behaviors while operating your vehicle.
Fleet drivers face constant visual, cognitive, and environmental interruptions the moment they hit the road. From roadside chaos to mental fatigue and digital overload, today’s biggest driving risks often come from outside the vehicle itself.
Read More →
FLASH Weather AI has launched a first-of-its-kind hail prediction model capable of forecasting hail size and arrival time at 1-kilometer resolution up to 55 minutes ahead, giving fleets and insurers critical time to prepare for severe storms.
Read More →
As litigation risk rises, vehicles are increasingly targeted. This Coca-Cola bottler shares how it’s reducing exposure through driver training, technology, and a proactive risk management approach.
Read More →
Drivers, supervisors, and data often speak different safety “languages.” Getting on the same page will drive better results.
Read More →
From identity management to third-party certifications, the right technology partner should make security easier to manage. Here are the three building blocks that fleet managers need to stay in control as connected systems scale.
Read More →
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
Read More →
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Read More →
What fleets capture to improve safety can also expose them in litigation, forcing leaders to rethink how data is managed, stored, and shared.
Read More →
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Read More →
While serious crashes are declining, a rise in minor incidents and ongoing risk hotspots underscore the need for continued fleet safety investment.
Read More →
