The Redwoods Group Insurance Program for Ymcas

The Redwoods Group – Risk Management Services

TOPIC: Distracted Driving–page 1 of 3 pages

The Redwoods Group Insurance Program for YMCAs

RISK MANAGEMENT ALERT

The Redwoods Group – Risk Management Services

TOPIC: Distracted Driving–page 1 of 3 pages

TOPIC: Distracted Driving – a significant problem

The Redwoods Group – Risk Management Services

TOPIC: Distracted Driving–page 1 of 3 pages

Most of us have found ourselves in a vehicle where the driver was so involved in a conversation – eye contact, hand gestures, emotions – that we were uncomfortable, perhaps even fearful. Those feelings were probably quite justified because a distracted driver is a dangerous driver. In fact, 16% of highway fatalities and 21% of injury crashes in 2008 (most recent data available) involved distracted drivers.1

Distractions come in many forms. The three main types are cognitive (mind not on driving), visual (eyes not on the road), and manual (hands not on the steering wheel). Common activities involving all three varieties include reading (newspaper, map, book, etc.); grooming; fiddling with CD, radio, or Mp3 player; eating; drinking; and, for some, talking. The first two are nearly universally conceded to be unwise while driving; the next four introduce danger in proportion to the amount of time and focus the driver directs away from the actual driving process.

The most dangerous distraction, however, is cell phone use. The perils of texting are obvious: the mind is on the message, the eyes are on the screen, and the hands are busy with little keys – driving has now taken a back seat. While using a cell phone may not seem as distracting, especially when hands-free devices are used, studies2 have shown that driving while using either a hands-free or hand-held cell phone is dangerous. It delays the driver’s reactions more than a blood alcohol content of 0.08% and increases the chance of crash four-fold. Driving while using a cell phone, even with a hands-free device, is driving impaired.

It’s no wonder that the Department of Transportation has taken a clear and aggressive position, stating,“Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening practice and we will not rest until we stop it.”Many states are in agreement and have passed anti-distraction legislation, but no current law is stringent enough to affect the desired change as they permit hands-free devices, contrary to the recommendations of numerous studies that clearly demonstrate that nosignificant reduction in risk is provided by their use. So, on the one hand, such laws are a positive step because in jurisdictions where they have been enacted the use of hand-held cell phone or texting while driving constitutes prima facie negligence with regard to a vehicular crash. On the other hand, such laws reinforce the erroneous belief that hands-free devices are useful in preventing distracted driving. Only when legislation reflects science will it become effective in reducing this life-threatening practice.

OSHA has also gotten involved, encouraging employers to implement policies banning the use of cell phones while driving company vehicles as part of their organization’s safety program.

Most people recognize the dangers of texting while driving. However, many employees, managers included, are extremely dependent on their cell phones and are concerned that a ban will negatively impact productivity and convenience. Most are also wrongly convinced that they can drive safely while using a cell phone, especially if hands-free – after all, they have been doing it for years. However, getting from one place to another without having a crash is not the same as driving safely.

Know the facts:

16% of fatal vehicular crashes3 and 28% of vehicular crashes4 involve distracted driving

a person on a cell phone is 4 times as likely to be involved in an injury-causing crash than a driver who is not on a cell phone5

3 out of 4 drivers who have committed a traffic
violation were on the telephone at the time6

1/3 of the brain’s processing resources are drawn
away from driving by the use of a cell phone7

The bottom line is that driving while impaired is, by definition, driving unsafely. The means of impairment is immaterial, and although impairment does not always result in a tragic crash, it does increase the probability of a crash enough to be actionable. Be responsible. Make the tough decision – two thirds of those who have done so actually report an increase both in productivity and morale, with virtually none reporting a decline.8 Ban texting and all cell phone use for anyone who is driving a motor vehicle. If you are not yet convinced, check out some of the links in the next column – e.g., Executive Summary, Call to action, FAQs, Top 8 List, or even the Distracted Driving Course itself. Examine the facts – they are very compelling.

Once aware of the facts the plan of action should be clear: we should not let employees drive while technologically impaired. The following aresuggested:

Implement a safety policy banning texting and all use of cell phones (including hands-free) and similar devices while driving Y vehicles or driving any vehicle on Y business

Implement a pull-over-to-answer rule for any staff who may need to be contacted when they are off-site and potentially driving

Impose significant consequences for noncompliant behavior; these may need to be progressive, at least at first

Encourage staff to behave similarly on their own time

We ban texting and cell phone use for lifeguards so that harm won’t result because they fail to respond to an emergency. We should ban texting and cell phone use for those who drive so that such actions are not the actual cause of an emergency. If it is crucial for lifeguards, who are not the cause of harm, to be attentive, how much more important is it for drivers, who risk bringing harm to themselves and innocent others every time they drive a vehicle, to be at least as attentive?

Be responsible – protect your association, your staff, and your community. Encourage and assist your staff to be responsible. Prohibit all cell phone use and texting while driving YMCA vehicles or while driving personal vehicles on Y business.

Contact your Redwoods risk manager for assistance, or download any of the following free National Safety Council materials:

The Redwoods Group – Risk Management Services

TOPIC: Distracted Driving–page 1 of 3 pages

Cell Phone Policy Kit (entire) or Individual components below: Introduction

Message From the PresidentCustomizable Press Release Building Management Support Components

Executive Summary

Executive Summary PowerPointCall to Action

Frequently Asked Questions

National Safety Council Employee Policy Generic Cell Phone Policy

Attributable Risk Estimate Model

Summary

Table

Employee Roll-Out ComponentsArticle to Inform

Voice Mail Teaser to Employees Top 8 List

Pull Over and Park Poster Presentation Script

Voice Mail Greetings

Tips

Pocket Policy Card

Focus on Your Driving Poster Distracted Driving CourseInstructor Guide

Participant Guide

Instructor PowerPoint

The National Safety Council also has posters and tip sheets which can be used to educate the public about this deadly behavior – see its website.

The Redwoods Group – Risk Management Services

TOPIC: Distracted Driving–page 1 of 3 pages

1National Highway Transportation Safety Administration5Insurance Institute for Highway Safety / University of Toronto

2University of Utah and others6Virginia Tech Transportation Institute / NHTSA

3National Highway Transportation Administration7Carnegie-Mellon

4Harvard Center for Risk Analysis/National Safety Council8National Safety Council

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Please call us at 800-463-8546 to discuss this or any other risk management safety tip, or visit our web site at to learn more about YMCA risk management issues.