Over the past few years, technology has completely changed the way people lead their lives. Mobile devices and the internet have made the business world more connected than ever; however, this does not come without its risks. Distracted driving has occupied the media spotlight on an almost daily basis. Some of the statistics on distracted driving published by the Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ORSA) include:
- Greater than 25 percent of all traffic incidents on roads involve someone who is driving for a company.
- In the year 2016 alone, more than 500 people were killed by somebody who was driving for work.
- Around 85 percent of these individuals were people other than the company driver.
- In addition, more than 5,000 people sustained serious injuries as a result of an accident involving someone driving for a business.
- Since the year 2006, greater than 60,000 people have been either killed or sustained serious injuries as a result of a work-related accident.
These statistics are startling and demonstrate that employees that are distracted drivers are a threat to themselves, other people in the car, and other drivers on the road. In case saving lives isn’t enough of a reason to want to stop distracted driving, business owners need to be careful as well. According to a recent news article published in Forbes, employers are responsible for making sure that their employees follow the law when behind the wheel; however, this isn’t enough to protect businesses from large lawsuits and damage awards following a crash with injuries or fatalities. This demonstrates that it is very important for businesses to take steps to reduce distracted driving. Are you protecting your fleet drivers from these distractions? Here is a list of reasons why you should invest in technology to stop preventable accidents happening because of distracted drivers.
10 Reasons Businesses Should Use Technology to Stop Distracted Driving
There are many reasons to use technology enforcement. Some of these include:
1. Use technology to enforce written policies.
Most companies have written policies that they try to enforce when it comes to driving and mobile phone use. Unfortunately, many companies have issues controlling mobile phone usage among their drivers. Advanced technology can help maintain compliance with a company’s written policies.
2. Focus on other business issues.
One of the biggest challenges that businesses face regarding texting and driving is the time consumption. Business leaders often spend hours trying to find ways to get their employees to comply with their regulations. If technology can force compliance, this frees up time to focus on other business issues. Furthermore, this gives business leaders peace of mind that their drivers and property are safe from distracted driving. Stop wasting time trying to police mobile phone use while driving.
3. A reduction in downtime.
When accidents do occur, this soaks up valuable business resources. The entire business could grind to a halt because of all of the resources that are consumed dealing with the accident. This costs the business valuable time, which means damage to the bottom line as well. Use technology to reduce business downtime and keep the gears turning. This will improve the company’s bottom line.
4. Reputation management issues.
It is no secret that distracted driving has occupied the media spotlight recently. If a company is publicized as being a culprit of distracted driving, leading to injuries and fatalities throughout the community, what does this do to the company’s reputation? How will this impact their business? Use a technology system to prevent distracted driving and protect the company’s reputation. It takes years to build a reputation but only a few minutes to completely ruin it. Don’t let this happen.
5. It’s the law – distracted driving is illegal.
While this may seem obvious, distracted driving is against the law. Texting and driving is illegal and dramatically increases the chances of an accident occurring. This can lead to injuries and fatalities which the company could be responsible for. The laws are changing quickly and technology can help companies force compliance and avoid the fines and penalties that accompany distracted driving.
6. Make the business stand out.
There are lots of businesses out there and it can be a challenge to stand out from the crowd. Having technology that helps to monitor mobile phone use while driving is a unique selling point. Rely on an advanced technology solution within the industry that can stop distracted driving and provide the business with a competitive advantage in an ever-changing world.
7. Be a pioneer in the industry.
Technology is changing quickly and it is hard for businesses to keep up. Using technology to reduce texting and driving will lead to a reduction in fatalities due to driver error. This will protect the company and represents a novel innovation in the industry. Make sure the business stays ahead of the curve and on top of the technology in a competitive world.
8. Using a distracted driving technological solution provides valuable insight.
In addition to forcing compliance with legal regulations, these advanced technological devices also provide the company with quantifiable, actionable data regarding their driver’s activities. Not only is this useful to stop texting and driving but can also provide the company with information related to driver routes, the productivity of the fleet, fleet safety, and can compare drivers against each other. Businesses can use this technology to track their drivers’ productivity and ensure that the fleet is operating in an efficient manner. Don’t leave such valuable data on the table.
9. The social responsibility of corporations to stop distracted driving.
In addition to keeping drivers safe, part of reputation management involves meeting the social responsibility that comes with a large business. Protect the employees and other people on the road. There are children, pedestrians, and cyclists that are at risk when it comes to distracted driving. Should anything happen to the drivers or any of these vulnerable populations, the business could be held responsible. Your company has a responsibility to keep people safe. Using a technological solution can help make this happen.
10. Lower cost of vehicle insurance.
Insurance is one of the largest financial obligations that a company has. Similar to having home insurance for a home, drivers’ insurance will be lower if companies have data showing that their fleet safety is improved. If they are less at risk of having an accident, insurance will be lower. Show the insurance companies that the business has taken steps to reduce their risks with this software. This keeps employees safe and can reduce overhead costs, which is a win-win for the business.
Clearly, it is vital for businesses to take steps to reduce distracted driving involving their business, their drivers, and their vehicles. Some business owners may be wondering how they can possibly control the actions of their drivers behind the wheel by reducing mobile phone use while driving. Fortunately, there are technology solutions available that can control the use of technology behind the wheel. Why not fight technology with technology enforcement?