A Life-Saving Resolution: Stop Texting While Driving

Rebecca Mazin
Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0000

This year I will only pick up my phone in the car after I have pulled over to the side of the road.

The December recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to ban the use of non-emergency personal electronic devices (PEDs) while operating a motor vehicle inspired me to make this practice a priority. News reports about the announcement convinced me even before I read the NTSB press release. My resolution is backed up by descriptions of accidents caused by the electronic distraction of texting, cell phone conversation and sending emails that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries. It's a step every small business owner can make too.

Start With Yourself

Once upon a time we got in our cars, turned on the radio and drove. There were already enough distractions including passengers, other drivers, getting lost and weather. The mobile phone gave us the ability to tune out these distractions and concentrate on work, gaining extra productivity out of the time we waste on the road. Really? Can you have an effective business conversation without referring to documents, reviewing information, checking a calendar or taking notes? How do you feel when a caller begins a conversation by telling you that they are catching up on calls on the highway and concludes by asking you to summarize content in writing?

Your personal example should extend to conversations you initiate. While making a job offer the candidate sounded ecstatic until I heard a siren in the background. They hurriedly apologized and cut the conversation short. The job offer did not result in a fine, they got off the road called back and reported that the police officer had only issued a warning. Whenever I make a call I ask if the recipient is driving. I don't think the freeway is a good locale for an interview, investigation or any other human resources activity I conduct.

Put it in Writing

A growing list of state laws are on your side in helping to enforce these policies. Text messaging while driving is banned in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a helpful summary of cellphone and texting laws. Your policy can begin by reminding employees of state, or local requirements. This can be part of an employee handbook and included in information covering the rules of the road for driving on company business.

It's fine to have policies that limit workplace texting and personal cell phone use to the occasional check in with kids after school or when a relative is in the hospital. This does not mean that these conversations are appropriate while driving. Find useful information for the task in the National Safety Council Cell Phone Policy Kit.

Multimillion Dollar Liability

If you still think that hands free is OK and an occasional text could not cause harm check out the multimillion dollar settlements doled out by juries or agreed upon in response to suits by the families of people killed or critically injured in accidents when an employee was texting or having a cell phone conversation while driving. Read the white paper from ZoomSafer, a developer of safe driving software for mobile phones for descriptions that will have you checking your liability policy.

The financial liability will hurt your bottom line and adverse publicity can only add to the costs. A front page photo of a vehicle crash involving a truck with your company logo on the door is never good. Witness descriptions of a driver with a cell phone to their ear will make the image even more damaging.

Whatever spurs your resolution I hope that safety considerations make a strong case to put that phone away before the key is turned in the ignition.

Rebecca Mazin uses her experience and talent as a consultant, author and management trainer to create usable solutions for employers to meet increasingly complicated human resources challenges. She is the author of The Employee Benefits Answer Book; An Indispensable Guide for Managers and Business Owners and co-author of The HR Answer Book; An Indispensable Guide for Managers and Human Resources Professionals. Follow Rebecca on Twitter @thehranswer.