Free Resources for Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2018

Distracted Driving Sticker for Company Vehicles

The National Safety Council and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) invite employers to participate in Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. Both groups are offering free employer resources, including posters, fact sheets, infographics, social media posts and more. Sharing this key information with your employers will help protect your workforce - and your business.

Safe driving requires drivers to frequently scan the area around them and react quickly to changing situations. Distracted driving affects their ability to perform these tasks.

In 2015, 3,477 people died in crashes involving distracted drivers and 14% of these crashes were reported to have involved cell phone use as a distraction. However, since police reports mainly depend on information provided by drivers at the scene, crashes attributed to all types of distracted driving are thought to be well underreported.

The National Safety Council estimated that 27% of all traffic crashes in 2013 involved the use of hand-held or hands-free cell phones.

7 Steps to Fight Distraction

NETS offers these suggestions to help avoid distracted driving:

1. Avoid temptation to talk or text on your phone. Turn it off while driving or place your device in the glove box or center console so it’s out of sight and out of mind.
2. Vary your route when possible, so routine trips like commuting to and from work don’t become mundane.
3. Keep your eyes moving. Make a full mirror sweep with your eyes every 5-6 seconds to stay alert and ward off allowing your mind to wander.
4. Keep a safe following distance. Driver training experts suggest a following distance of 3-4 seconds in good weather - more in inclement weather. The 3-4-second following rule increases visibility and gives more time to react to what’s happening in front of you, reducing risk to you and your passengers.
5. Clear your mind. You cannot focus on driving if your mind is on work or family pressure or your to-do list. Take a moment before you drive to get your mind focused on the task at hand - getting to your destination safely.
6. Have a plan. Don’t wait until you are driving to plan and become familiar with your route. Use navigation devices with voice directions and set them prior to pulling out.
7. Help others help themselves. Make it a practice when you call someone’s cell phone to ask if they are driving. If the answer is “yes,” take it upon yourself to call back later or ask them to return your call when they’ve reached their destination. And never text someone you know to be driving.

Distracted Driving Month campaign materials include meaningful activities that reinforce safe-driving messages without taking significant time away from the work day. Get more information and free materials here:

• National Safety Council Distracted Driving Materials.
• DSWW Distracted Driving Toolkit.
• Browse transportation safety signs and labels.