2008 June - Distracted Driving - National Safety Month

The focus of the June 2008 National Safety Month, sponsored by the National Safety Council, is on the most significant causes of unintentional injuries and deaths in the American workplace. One of the topics covered is driving safety; specifically, how to reduce accidents caused by distractions while driving.

According to the NHTSA (Driver Distraction, Telematics And Highway Safety), a significant number of driving accidents are caused by distractions.

…driver distraction in all of its various forms probably contributes to between 20 and 30 percent of all crashes. Exact statistics may never be known due to the difficulty of determining driver actions prior to a crash.

The AAA (American Automobile Association) reports that the annual cost of motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. amounts to $164.2 billion (news report, Catherine Clifford, money.cnn.com, March 5, 2008). Based on figures from the NTHSA study and the AAA numbers, we can infer that the national cost of motor vehicle accidents due to distractions is likely between $33 and $50 billion per year.

Furthermore, according to OSHA, the cost to employers due to motor vehicle accidents is $60 billion per year. In other words, more than 35% of the national cost of motor vehicle accidents is borne by employers, that is, motor vehicle accidents caused by distracted drivers could be costing businesses between $11 and to $17 billion every year.

We should, of course, not forget that there is a human element concealed behind these numbers. Providing driving education and training can not only save your business thousands of dollars it can also save your employees the pain and anguish that follow in the aftermath of accidents.

If resource constraints prevent your company from providing comprehensive driver training then, as the numbers above indicate, simply building awareness about the dangers of distractions while driving can help make the roadways safer. Here are some additional resources:

Driving Safety Resources:
National Safety Council - Driving
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
California Department of Motor Vehicles
Safe driving tips for teens, parents, and all drivers
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Preventing child death or injury from vehicle accidents

Driving Safety Products we offer:
Driving Training & Safety
Driving Safety Booklet
Driving Safety Video Program
Driver Training Solutions