Keep Your Eyes on the Road: Tips to Reduce Distracted Driving Accidents

DALLAS, Texas – Distracted-driving crashes accounted for eight percent of all fatal crashes, 14 percent of injury crashes and 13 percent of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes, according to the National Safety Council.

Texting or talking on the phone, eating, drinking and smoking, are the leading distracted driving behaviors and PestSure, an insurance and risk management provider for pest management professionals, is committed to reducing the frequency of distracted driving accidents and assisting companies create a safe driving culture.

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“In our PestSure insurance program, rear-end collisions account for 48 percent of our losses,” said Linda Midyett, vice president loss control director for PestSure. “These crashes are expensive because our driver caused the crash and resultant damage. They are hard to defend because our driver controls the speed and proximity of their vehicle to the vehicle in front of them.”

The pest management industry has thousands of employees behind the wheel day and night to service customers. With every turn, stop or backing out of a driveway, there is a risk for an accident to occur. Therefore, it is vital for companies to develop and follow protocols for safe driving practices, especially when it comes to distracted driving.

Reducing distracted driving accidents is crucial for pest control businesses to protect their employees and assets. PestSure offers the following tips for business owners:

• Implement a Distracted Driving Policy - Establish a clear policy that prohibits the use of electronic devices while driving and outlines consequences for violations.
• Educate Employees - Provide regular training on the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of staying focused on the road.
• Encourage Hands-Free Technology - Encourage the use of hands-free devices for GPS navigation to minimize distractions.
• Eliminate Non-Essential Activities – Require that employees refrain from eating, drinking, grooming, or other non-essential activities while driving.
  
• Monitor Driving Behavior – Consider telematics devices or the use of mobile apps that can track and report on driver behavior, including instances of distracted driving.
  
• Promote a Culture of Safety - Encourage employees to speak up if they see a colleague engaging in distracted driving behavior and lead by example as a business owner.
  
• Provide Positive Feedback – At your safety meetings, acknowledge employees who demonstrate safe driving practices.
  
• Regularly Review and Update Policies - Stay current with best practices and laws related to distracted driving, and update your policies as needed.
• Lead by Example - As a business owner, demonstrate safe driving behavior yourself and make it a priority in your organization.