Avoid distracted driving

As a business owner, one of your biggest risk exposures occurs when an employee drives a company vehicle on public streets and highways. That risk increases when a cell phone is used. Any accident could impact your employee’s safety and leave your business liable.

Deaths from motor vehicle accidents remain a leading cause of work related fatalities in the United States. In fact, vehicle operations are the biggest liability exposure most businesses face, since you’re responsible for the actions of your employees while on the road—whether they’re driving your vehicle or their own vehicle on company business. An accident can have disastrous and direct financial consequences for you, as well as negative publicity for your business.

You can help control these exposures by developing and communicating a policy on driver safety.

Cell phone use while driving has become such a concern, many states and local municipalities have passed or are considering passing laws prohibiting cell phone use while behind the wheel.

Drivers of commercial motor vehicles are already banned from using cell phones. At the start of 2012, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) prohibited the use of handheld cell phones. Drivers who are caught can face large fines and a possible disqualification of their CDL.

As the person responsible for safety, it makes sense for you to develop, implement, and monitor a formal, written cell phone policy for your drivers. The best plan prohibits any cell phone use while behind the wheel. This includes making and receiving calls, text messaging, and Internet use. To help, we can provide you with a cell phone policy template to help identify and document the best cell phones practices for your business.