2023 Distracted Driving for Business
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association1, the total economic impact of motor vehicle accidents was $340 billion in 2019, the equivalent of approximately $1,035 for every person living in the United States. Here’s a look at key findings from the 2023 Travelers Risk Index and how a distracted driving policy can help businesses.
Distracted Driving
2023 Travelers Risk Index for Business
What’s Driving Workers to Distraction?
A Growing Concern for Businesses
32% of business leaders are concerned about their employees using technology while driving for work purposes, up from 26% last year.
And for Good Reason
31% of employees admit to getting into a crash or collision while driving for work because they’re distracted, up from 26% last year.
Distracted Driving Excuses
44% of employees who take a work-related call while driving do so because it might be an emergency. 43% say they believe they always need to be available for work.
Employee Expectations
87% of employers expect their employees to respond to work-related messages when they are out of the office during work hours.
Here’s What Employers Can Do:
Have a policy
74% of businesses have an official policy about employees sending or receiving phone calls, texts or emails while driving for work purposes.
60% of those require employees to sign a distracted driving contract or agreement.
Train
87% of businesses formally train employees on their distracted driving policy.
Reinforce
72% of companies discipline employees who do not comply with their policy while driving for work purposes.
Monitor
43% of companies use technology to track employees when they are driving.
Speak up
Only 10% of people say they’ve spoken up to a colleague who was driving distracted. 84% of consumers who use a phone while driving say they would be less likely to if a passenger asked them to stop.
Top Distracted Driving Policy Rules:
Do not use a handheld device while driving
Check directions or set your GPS before driving
Learn more about the Travelers Risk Index and techniques you can use to help put the brakes on distracted driving. Visit travelers.com/distracteddriving
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The 2023 Travelers Risk Index finds employees are using their phone when they are behind the wheel, and it may contribute to distracted driving behaviors.
In fact, the majority of employers (87%) expect their employees to respond to work-related messages when they are out of the office during work hours. And 44% of employees who take work-related calls while driving do so because they believe they always need to be available for work.
Business managers can help put a stop to this dangerous behavior by communicating and reinforcing driving policies, speaking up when a colleague is driving distracted and not calling employees when they know they are behind the wheel.
