Are Your Employees Distracted Driving? Oh No!

Website: Travelers

Material Excerpted From: Travelers – Business/Distracted Driving

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, the total economic impact of motor vehicle accidents was $340 billion in 2019, the equivalent of approximately $1,035 for every person living in the United States.

Here’s a look at key findings from the 2023 Travelers Risk Index and how a distracted driving policy can help businesses.

2023 Risk Index for Business

WHAT’S DRIVING WORKERS TO DISTRACTION?

• A GROWING CONCERN FOR BUSINESSES

32% of business leaders are concerned about their employees using technology while driving for work purposes, up from 26% last year.

• AND FOR GOOD REASON

31% of employees admit to getting into a crash or collision while driving for work because they’re distracted, up from 26% last year.

• DISTRACTED DRIVING EXCUSES

44% of employees who take a work-related call while driving do so because it might be an emergency. 43% say they believe they always need to be available for work.

• EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS

87% of employers expect their employees to respond to work-related messages when they are out of the office during work hours.

HERE’S WHAT EMPLOYERS CAN DO:

• Have a policy: 74% of businesses have an official policy about employees sending or receiving phone calls, texts or emails while driving for work purposes. 60% of those require employees to sign a distracted driving contract or agreement.

• Train: 87% of businesses formally train employees on their distracted driving policy.

• Reinforce: 72% of companies discipline employees who do not comply with their policy while driving for work purposes.

• Monitor: 43% of companies use technology to track employees when they are driving.

• Speak up: Only 10% of people say they’ve spoken up to a colleague who was driving distracted. 84% of consumers who use a phone while driving say they would be less likely to if a passenger asked them to stop.

TOP DISTRACTED DRIVING POLICY RULES:

• Do not use a handheld device while driving.

• Check directions or set your GPS before driving.

The 2023 Risk Index finds employees are using their phone when they are behind the wheel, and it may contribute to distracted driving behaviors.

In fact, the majority of employers (87%) expect their employees to respond to work-related messages when they are out of the office during work hours. And 44% of employees who take work-related calls while driving do so because they believe they always need to be available for work.

Business managers can help put a stop to this dangerous behavior by communicating and reinforcing driving policies, speaking up when a colleague is driving distracted and not calling employees when they know they are behind the wheel.

Call your local Hometown Insurance Agent to review your business policy coverage at 1-800-568-SAVE (7283) or contact us by email at service@hometowninsurance.com for helpful information.

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