TIPS TO PREVENT DISTRACTED DRIVING

Statistics show that driver distraction is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents. According to the American Automobile Association, drivers conversing on mobile devices, whether hands-free or hand-held, are up to four times more likely to be involved in a crash. Drivers engaged in visual-manual interactions with cell phones, such as texting, are eight times more likely to be involved in a crash than those who are focused on the road.

Crashes can happen almost instantly. Taking your eyes off the road for even two seconds doubles your risk of being in a collision. At a speed of 35 mph, you will have travelled over 100 feet without looking at the road in front of you. Even checking a text message for 5 seconds at highway speed means you will have likely traveled almost the length and a half of a football field without looking at the road.

Here are some tips for employers and workers to help avoid driver distraction:

Employers can: • Educate workers on the risks of distracted driving. • Instruct workers to have a voicemail message that indicates they are driving and cannot respond to calls.

• Ensure work schedules are established that allow employees to focus on driving, and not their phones, while operating a vehicle.

• Use or install hands-free devices if phone calls are absolutely necessary for work.

Workers can: • Avoid using the phone or device. • Have a voice mail option and allow it to pick up messages. Let it tell your caller you will phone them back after you have parked.

• Pull over to a safe location to make or take a call or check a text. Pull out of the flow of traffic especially when on a major highway (do not stop on the shoulder).

• Have a passenger answer or place the call. • Use a hands-free device when using the phone (e.g., voice activation, single touch) but remember the activation process and conversation itself is still a distraction.

• Make sure other devices are mounted (not moving around) while driving.

• Pre-program commonly used numbers. • Pause conversations if driving conditions become hazardous (e.g., rain, snow, construction, heavy traffic).

Tis article is reprinted from Te Health and Safety Report a free monthly newsletter produced by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). You can subscribe at http://www.ccohs.ca/

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TPI Turf News May/June 2018