WHAT IS  DISTRACTED DRIVING?

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.

There are three main types of distraction.

1. Manual – Taking your hands off the wheel.
2. Visual – Taking your eyes off the road.
3. Cognative – Taking your mind off of your driving.

These types of distractions include:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.

The best way to end distracted driving is to educate our employees about the danger it poses and to enforce policies that prevent it. Employees should refer to pages 33-39 of the Ted Berry Company Safety Handbook “Fleet safety policy” and discuss with their supervisor any questions or concerns they have.

One million people chat and text while driving each day. People feel pressure to remain in constant contact, even when behind the wheel. What drivers do not realize are the dangers posed when they take their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel, and focus on activities other than driving.The average text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for nearly five seconds. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field. The message being conveyed is that texting while driving isn’t multitasking, it’s essentially driving blind.

Tips for driving safely from the National Highway Traffic safety Administration.

• Out of sight out of mind, When your in the car or truck put your phone where you cannot get to it. A place where you won’t even be tempted to look for it.
• Get a safe driving app for your Smartphone. An app can help you stop texting and driving, download your favorite and stop texting and driving.
• Turn off your notifications, the less you hear those little “dings” the less tempted you will be to sneak a peak.

We run a business that demands a lot of our employees, operators, and managers. Our customers and coworkers communicate with us a number of ways including by phone and email, our willingness to serve them is what has made us successful, but serving our customers and our employees cannot come at the cost of safety. Find a safe parking spot off the road, make calls, respond to email messages, and then get back on your way with your focus on getting to your destination safely.

Remember that NO CALL OR MESSAGE IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT IS WORTH YOUR LIFE OR THAT OF A SOMEONE ELSE. This is a habit that many of people from all walks of life have developed and has cost many innocent lives. Please make a pledge today at work and at home to not text and drive.

Matt Timberlake

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