Working While Distracted
Fewer people are getting injured on the job as loss-control strategies improve, according to Keith Coleman, EVP for Beard Construction Group, Inc. However, concern is mounting about self-insured workers’ comp exposure to a troubling trend. “The biggest liability for us now is having employees in company vehicles on the road,” he reports.
Nearly everyone is guilty of some form of distracted driving. A distraction is anything that takes your attention away from what you should be focusing on. There are three main types of distraction: Visual, Cognitive and Manual. Visual is looking away; Manual physically doing something else; and Cognitive is thinking about other things.
Here are a few tips to keep you safe while driving:
- Limit phone use while you are driving — turn it off if necessary. Even hands-free calling and voice texting may increase the risk of an accident.
- Get a phone app that silences calls and texts while your car is in motion. Many of these apps send an auto-response notifying the sender that you are driving.
- Driving is no time for multitasking. Avoid eating, glancing at your calendar, searching for items and anything else that takes your attention away from the road.
- Keep conversation light when talking to passengers. Save serious discussions or important news for another time.
- Make sure children and pets are properly secured in their seats before driving.
- Pull over and park in a safe spot before adjusting controls in your car, tending to a pet or child, sending a text, or talking on your cellphone.
The CDC has plenty of facts, stats and other information on driving while distracted https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/index.html
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