Studies have shown that drivers using cell phones, and especially when trying to text and drive, are as impaired as if they have had several drinks.  Hands-free devices are a start, but not a final solution, because the real impairment comes from the fact that the driver’s MIND is not on the road (and, in the case of texting, neither are his EYES!)

Employers should take a strong role to ensure that mobile workers are using their cell phones safely and not putting their life or that of others at risk due to cell phone usage. Employers can create cell phone safety policies to outline situations and repercussions for those who fail to follow the policies. Polices can be created with input from both management and remote workers to help ensure that there is a fair balance and that the policies are realistically workable and enforceable.  Goals:

1. Require Hands-Free Devices Only
Provide remote workers with the correct hands-free equipment for their cell phone. Hands-free operation does not guarantee 100% safety but will provide remote workers with less distraction if they must use their cell phone on the road.

2. Warnings in Company Vehicles
Notices should be put in all company vehicles reminding remote employees that the main function of the vehicle operator is to safely arrive at locations not talking on a cell phone while driving. Passengers should be responsible for handling the cell phone or the driver should pull over before using their cell phone.

3. Let Employees Take Responsibility
Any remote workers charged with traffic infractions as a result of the use of a cell phone will be responsible for paying any fines or other associated costs. This would include the usage of a personal or business cell phone while in the company vehicle. If a remote worker accumulates a certain number of charges, then stricter discipline may be required.

4. Driver Safety Training
Require that all remote workers attend a driver safety course prior to be allowed to use a company vehicle. Some driver safety courses can be brutally honest with demonstrating the results of driver inattention due to the distraction of cell phones. While seeming harsh, this may be the only way to make remote workers aware of the potential for harm.

5. Provide an Answering Service or Forwarding Option
Give remote workers the ability to have calls forwarded to another individual or to an answering service. Once the remote worker has arrived at their destination they can check for new messages. It can be hard to adjust to not answering a cell phone or making calls while on the road but the alternative could be death.

6. Shut It Off!
Within a cell phone safety policy, include a “Shut It Off” clause. It should be a condition of operation of any company vehicle that the driver’s cell phone is turned off. Including any passengers in this clause may also be appropriate, another person using a cell phone could cause the driver to become distracted and focus more on the cell phone discussion and less on their driving.

7. No Cell Phones Allowed.  Period.
Banning completely the use of any company-owned or personal cell phone while operating a company-owned vehicle or personal vehicle while doing company business. This is the last resort and should be used only when other measures have had no impact. It would be appropriate to apply this to those remote workers who have had numerous traffic infractions resulting from unsafe cell phone use.

Talking (or texting) while driving is not only unsafe, in many states it is illegal, and can be the “primary” cause of a traffic stop.  (If the state doesn’t make talking-while-driving a “primary,” then the police cannot stop you for talking, but if they stop you for something else, hey can cite you.)  

 

This excellent summary of the State Cell Phone Driving Laws is regularly updated:

http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

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