Distracted driving is a major contributor in an estimated 4,000 to 8,000 crashes every day, so whether employees are driving as a part of their job or just to and from work, auto crashes pose a major risk to employers of all sizes. And that means a risk to companies'' bottom lines.
To help educate employees about distracted driving and combat the human and economic costs of traffic crashes, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), has made distracted driving the focus of the fifth annual Drive Safety Work Week (DSWW) campaign, taking place next week, Sept. 10-14.
Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, indicate that every day, common factors are topping the list of distracters for today''s drivers: looking at things outside the vehicle, adjusting the radio or CD player, other occupants and objects moving inside the vehicle.
This workplace traffic safety campaign emphasizes the importance of buckling up, since seat belts are one of the best defenses against the distracted drivers sharing the road.
NETS has a tool kit available with safety messages, activities and camera-ready artwork to make it easy for employers to improve the driving safety of their employees.
For more information, visit www.trafficsafety.org.
by Virginia Foran