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Companies tackle risks of distracted driving

Tennessean / USA Today -- Distracted driving has emerged over the past 5 years as perhaps the top road safety priority in the U.S. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month.

Now, many businesses — concerned about liability issues in the face of new laws and the impact of distraction-related crashes on their bottom line — are beginning to develop policies for their fleet drivers.

A new federal law that prohibits commercial vehicle operators from using hand-held cellphones while driving affects about 4 MM truck and bus drivers, plus tens of millions of other drivers. A commercial motor vehicle is one that weighs more than 10,000 pounds and crosses a state line for business purposes, or any vehicle above 26,000 pounds.

$2,750 for each offense and loss of their commercial operator’s license for mult

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Submitted Apr 16, 2012 By: DellDude2

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remay Champion Author Houston Posts:7,078 Points:2,143,965 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Apr 17, 2012 7:40:27 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse That's it, penalize the people who KNOW what they are doing. Remember the two-way radio, and "CBs"? What was different?
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,235 Points:824,850 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:36:13 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse Bar.........you crack me up. Ha
GreyWolf01 Veteran Author Ontario Posts:271 Points:62,400 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 11:13:49 AM Ignore GreyWolf01 Report Abuse "Some companies are not aware of their potential exposure, says Steven Bojan, at Chicago-based insurance broker Hub International. “You may be driving your own car for work,” Bojan says. “Now, it’s a work-related vehicle.”" Is it just me or did this slip past most readers? Is this an opening for insurance companies to now charge us comercial rates on our insurance for the vehicles, no matter what they are, that we drive to work? The insurance companies around here ask "How far do you drive you vehicle to work?" when you apply for insurance. They know if you drive to work, and if this quote is any indication you might see a big jump in insurance.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:55:00 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse You are right on SachiCat! Parents need to relate to their child(ren) talking, listening smiling, responding, helping, training, commanding, expecting and inspecting. WOW! It can be done. We only had ten (10) children! So we don't know very much! [Edited by: JamesCalvin at 4/16/2012 10:55:34 AM EST]
glorioussnookie Champion Author Tennessee Posts:3,761 Points:699,370 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:28:21 AM Ignore glorioussnookie Report Abuse I am with bar1035 hehe
SachiCat Rookie Author Tacoma Posts:97 Points:582,365 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 9:03:58 AM Ignore SachiCat Report Abuse Laws can affect little change...think distractibility starts early with toddlers put in front of TV as harried parents rush around to make ends meet while working 2-3 jobs, with teens learning to text; doesn't help with drivers using smartphones, eating & putting on make up, reading, etc. Multi-tasking is over rated when driving.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:31:49 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Distractibility is a learned mental handicap!
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:27:28 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Distractability is a learned mental illness. Its prevention begins during the first 18 months of a child's life when parents love their children and teach them to cheerfully obey a spoken command! Distractability is an undesirable character quality that can be reduced in our 1 to 18 year old population with the help of intentional parents! The positive character quality that children can be taught is cheerful instant complete obedience to a spoken command. It almost eliminates distractability and significantly reduces ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). The training starts prenatally!
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,343 Points:1,325,920 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:16:48 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse i was gonna post something but I got distracted
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:14:27 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Distractability is a learned mental illness. It can be remediated through DRT (Distractability Remediation Therapy)! [Edited by: JamesCalvin at 4/16/2012 9:15:15 AM EST]
lcleveland Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,756 Points:676,005 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:07:51 AM Ignore lcleveland Report Abuse there has always been some kind of distractions, from make-up reading texting and so on
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 8:06:53 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse It's still true! You can Double the value of your car - fill it with gas!
lsb1955 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:2,168 Points:545,470 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:59:51 AM Ignore lsb1955 Report Abuse the lady next to me is applying makeup
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:54:03 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Most distraction can be unlearned! Try teaching a child to cheerfully obey a spoken command! Eliminates ADD in kids! as well as distractability! Teach kids to pay attention to the spoken word!
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:51:31 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Try picking up stones in the family vegetable garden. The use those stones in a creative way to build a walk way or a bird waterer. Or a fountain!
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,210 Points:1,769,535 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:50:25 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse Huh?
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:50:18 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Like raking the leaves in the front lawn!
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:49:57 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Forget the focus on electronic game stations!! Learn to do real lifework!
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,344 Points:547,255 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:47:40 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Distractability is a learned mental disability! It can be remediated! IT IS CALLED DRIVER"S ED! folks. Have parents teach kids to drive! [Edited by: JamesCalvin at 4/16/2012 8:49:07 AM EST]
VDubBill Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,765 Points:1,283,370 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:44:02 AM Ignore VDubBill Report Abuse Don't forget the "How's My Driving?" stickers. These drivers need to realize that if they have an accident a lawsuit could affect the entire company. Everyone, including the front office secretaries, need to encourage the drivers to be careful.
BEGTWO Champion Author Maryland Posts:2,077 Points:751,315 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:36:32 AM Ignore BEGTWO Report Abuse All bus and truck drivers are going to talk on the phone. I don't why the companies won't give them wire or wireless ear pieces!!!
amoshins Champion Author Trenton Posts:2,306 Points:667,995 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:35:32 AM Ignore amoshins Report Abuse There are signs all over highways in Southern NJ saying: "One text or call could wreck it all.". I'm glad they have these warnings posted, but, as @badbonita correctly reports, it will not deter stupid behavior. And how many tax payer dollars are funding these efforts?
badbonita Champion Author Syracuse Posts:6,366 Points:1,381,410 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:23:46 AM Ignore badbonita Report Abuse As much as I'd like to agree, stupid people are going to do stupid things no matter what the law says. For some reason, our populace has changed to where we have to be in constant contact with friends and family. That we somehow gain something from all the contacts we collect and receive some type of ego support by showing how popular/active we are. That nothing is more important that updating your facebook page or letting everyone know that you're heading for the mall. What a convenient tool for stalkers. There is a big story locally about a commercial bus driver who missed his turn on the Interstate exit ramp (it has multiple exit lanes)and was checking his company-forbidden but personally-owned GPS for directions causing him to not see any of the 14 signs that indicate a low bridge. He smashed into it and killed 4 people. Everyone is saying that there are not enough indicators of the low railroad bridge and should be taken down. NYS DOT already changed regulations so no commercial vehicles are allowed on that specific road - that includes the little Civics and Accords making deliveries because they have commercial plates. And no, I'm not exaggerating on the number of signs - between metal signs, flashers around other signs as well as being painted on the road itself. The laws already on the books of various states - for commercial drivers as well as passenger vehicles - NEED to be enforced and enforced rigorously. That the federal government wants to join in, whatever. It's going to make a minimum for any state that doesn't already have a law on the books.
GingoutMD Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,495 Points:713,305 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:19:36 AM Ignore GingoutMD Report Abuse This is a great first step and public service made by these companies. Now if the phone makers would work with the car manufacturers and build a system so a driver can only use his phone either hands free or not at all when in a moving vehicle, then I would be more satisfied. The use of a proximity sensor to the steering wheel would prevent the driver from using the phone while still allowing a passenger to use the phone.
df99 All-Star Author Rhode Island Posts:581 Points:1,013,685 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:16:42 AM Ignore df99 Report Abuse Now lets see those same penalties applied to all drivers! A classic car as in my Avatar - they only made 8078 - was just destroyed by being driven into by a texting youngster. The '73 Volvo 1800ES was at a stoplight - the other vehicle never even slowed down.
gandalfthegrey1 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,184 Points:384,785 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 7:15:19 AM Ignore gandalfthegrey1 Report Abuse Have to agree w/ cmptrmush. Same problem here - except in school zones where one is fined for being on the phone if driving thru one. This should be universally banned behind the wheel. Perhaps it isn't because the cell phone lobbies will lose a lot of chargeable minutes if a ban is imposed.
johntxx Champion Author Texas Posts:2,943 Points:644,020 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 6:54:48 AM Ignore johntxx Report Abuse A company implementing more than required and putting Safety First: "Reliance, with 1,800 trucks on the road daily, communicated the policy to its 240 locations. “For our commercial fleet, it’s simple,” Taylor says. “Our drivers are not allowed to use any kind of electronic communication device while driving. That’s CB, cellphone, text. It cannot be used, period, unless the vehicle is safely and legally parked.”
dave27johnson Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,823 Points:433,195 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 6:52:55 AM Ignore dave27johnson Report Abuse Phones can be designed to work differently when they detect driving speeds.
cmptrmush Champion Author Detroit Posts:3,755 Points:766,445 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 6:26:12 AM Ignore cmptrmush Report Abuse This isn't a bad idea, but for my experience, the problem on the road isn't fleet drivers, it is the man/woman driving to work while on the phone. Or the teenager who is texting while trying to get to the mall or movie theater.
cdrrod Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:4,291 Points:810,500 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 6:22:12 AM Ignore cdrrod Report Abuse This really needs to be implemented all over!
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:5,658 Points:396,020 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 6:13:17 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse Something had to be done -- good!
WeasleyOC Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,285 Points:829,800 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 6:10:48 AM Ignore WeasleyOC Report Abuse It's all about the insurance costs.
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,036 Points:799,970 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 5:58:51 AM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse Hands free only
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,036 Points:799,970 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 5:58:39 AM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse No texting.
rickone All-Star Author Detroit Posts:660 Points:418,025 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 5:56:29 AM Ignore rickone Report Abuse Interestin - Thanks for posting.
EricBrazil Champion Author Miami Posts:2,249 Points:494,400 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 5:50:59 AM Ignore EricBrazil Report Abuse LOL Yooperheart
Yooperheart Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,565 Points:554,725 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 5:47:47 AM Ignore Yooperheart Report Abuse What and drunks are now taking the back seat on this one, unheard of.
el_fr Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,477 Points:772,400 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 5:46:24 AM Ignore el_fr Report Abuse What about hands free or talking on a CB
DellDude2 Champion Author Nashville Posts:9,571 Points:2,150,210 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 16, 2012 5:44:32 AM Ignore DellDude2 Report Abuse From the article: Drivers who cause a crash while violating either the new federal law or one of the state laws also might put their employers at risk beyond being fined. “They have liability,” Bojan says. “These plaintiffs are looking at cellphone use as a cause of crashes. If you’re talking on the cellphone while driving for work (and cause a crash), it probably increases the company’s liability. The best practice for many fleets is to have some form of distracted-driving policy.”