By RAM Tracking on 12 Jan 2024

How to Avoid Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is operating a vehicle while engaging in activities that divert the driver's attention away from the task of driving. These distractions can significantly impair a driver's ability to focus on the road, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Distractions can be categorized into three main types:

• Visual distractions: Taking your eyes off the road. For example, looking at a phone or adjusting the radio.
• Manual distractions: Taking your hands off the steering wheel. This includes activities like texting, eating, or reaching for an object in the car.
• Cognitive distractions: Taking your mind off driving. This involves engaging in activities that mentally divert your attention, such as having intense conversations, daydreaming, or being preoccupied with personal matters.

One common and dangerous form of distracted driving is texting or using a mobile phone while driving. In the United States, 46 states plus the District of Columbia ban texting and driving, but the issue comes down to enforcement. It’s crucial for drivers to stay focused on the road and minimize distractions to reduce the risk of accidents.

In a company where multiple vehicles are owned or operated in a fleet, distracted driving can pose significant risks. Fleet managers are responsible for the safety of their drivers and vehicles, and addressing distracted driving is crucial to reduce the likelihood of:

• Incidents.
• Injuries.
• Damage to both personnel and company assets.

Fleet managers should establish rules and protocols to deter distracted driving among their drivers. Additionally, technologies like vehicle tracking systems can be utilized to observe driver behavior and detect instances of distracted driving within a fleet.

Common driver distractions

Successfully maneuvering through roadways requires focus and a dedication to safety. Distracted driving presents a significant hazard to drivers. It is crucial to acknowledge and deal with the different types of distractions that can jeopardize road safety. Whether it's avoiding drowsiness or refraining from actions like eating while driving, fostering a culture of attentiveness is essential.

• Daydreaming or being lost in thought: Allowing your mind to wander while driving can divert your attention from the road and increase the risk of accidents.
• Cell phone use: Using a cell phone while driving is a significant distraction. This includes talking on the phone, checking messages, or any other activity that involves the use of a mobile device.
• Focusing on something outside the vehicle: Paying too much attention to distractions, such as an interesting sight or an accident scene, can lead to a lack of focus on the road.
• Reaching for objects inside the vehicle: Trying to grab items from the back seat, dashboard, or elsewhere within the vehicle can lead to dangerous moments of inattention.
• Smoking: Lighting a cigarette, handling smoking-related paraphernalia, or dealing with the effects of smoking can distract a driver.

One of the most alarming and unsafe distractions is cell phone use, especially texting while driving. This activity involves all three types of distractions—manual, visual, and cognitive.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) emphasizes the severity of texting and driving, noting that taking your eyes off the road for just 5 seconds at 55 mph is the same as driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

This highlights the critical need to address and discourage such behavior to enhance road safety.

Driving safety tips

Ensuring driving safety for fleet drivers is important to protect both personnel and company assets. Here are some key safety tips for fleet drivers:

1. Prioritize your safety by setting your phone aside and keeping it on silent while driving. If you need to use your phone, make a conscious decision to pull over to a safe area beforehand. Familiarize yourself with your state's texting and driving or hands-free laws and adhere to them consistently.
2. Never operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Always prioritize sobriety to ensure a clear and focused mind while driving.
3. Adjust all vehicle settings, such as radio station and volume and climate control, before starting your journey. This ensures that your attention remains on the road without unnecessary distractions.
4. Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking while operating the vehicle. Focus on driving to maintain control and respond quickly to any unforeseen circumstances.
5. Utilize ELD technology to improve driver safety and keep track of how long they've been on the road, this ensures they're following legal requirments and taking care of themselves.

By implementing these safety tips, fleet managers can contribute to a culture of safety within their organization and significantly reduce the risk of incidents on the road. Regular training, clear policies, and proactive vehicle checks can enhance the overall safety of fleet operations.

Conclusion

Addressing the extensive issue of distracted driving is vital in safeguarding road safety for both individual drivers and fleet operations. The various forms of distractions, ranging from visual and manual to cognitive, underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to mitigate risks.

• The potential for incidents, injuries, and damage underscores the critical role fleet managers play in establishing and enforcing rules and protocols to deter distracted driving.
• Leveraging technologies like vehicle tracking systems and communication apps further enhance their ability to monitor and address instances of distracted driving within the fleet.

Prioritizing safety by minimizing phone use, avoiding substance impairment, setting vehicle settings beforehand, and refraining from activities like eating or smoking contribute significantly to accident prevention.

In the context of fleet operations, these safety tips, combined with regular training, clear policies, and proactive measures, can contribute to cultivating a culture of safety within the organization.

• Promoting awareness.
• Adherence to laws.
• The adoption of best practices.

Fleet managers can substantially reduce the risk of accidents, protecting both personnel and valuable company assets. In essence, an effort to combat distracted driving is an investment in the well-being of individuals and the overall success of fleet operations.