We are halfway through Distracted Driving Awareness Month, when extra emphasis is placed on the dangers of distracted driving. Statistics from the National Safety Council (NCS) indicate that, in 2024, more than 3,000 people were killed in what they call distraction-affected crashes.
Exactly what is distracted driving?
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT's) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is “any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the task of safe driving.”
According to a recent blog on the National Safety Council’s website, “Many drivers believe they can safely split their attention between driving and other tasks.” However, research shows that your brain actually switches focus from one thing to another rather than focusing on two things at once. This means if a driver is on the phone, their focus is not on the road ahead.
The most prevalent forms of distracted driving are talking on cell phones and texting. But driving while drowsy, eating, or engaging in other activities that take a driver’s attention away from driving are also distractions.
Like almost all fleets, Transervice and Lily have distracted driving policies that include information on what we consider distracted driving, our policies against it, and the consequences of driving while distracted.
While we talk about distracted driving during onboarding and throughout the year in driver meetings and other driver communications, it is a good idea to use what is left of this month to place extra emphasis on distracted driving and its consequences. Consider making it the focus of your next driver meeting, and when your dispatchers interact with drivers, ask them to remind drivers to stay focused while driving. You might also consider placing a placard in the truck cab to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road. Emphasize that drowsy driving is distracted driving as well, and remind drivers to get adequate rest before getting behind the wheel.
While drivers of commercial vehicles are not the only ones who can be distracted, they can set a good example for other drivers by keeping their focus on the road ahead.
