By Jim Berriatua, Vice-President, Gallagher Global Construction Services
John was driving a company vehicle to a work site when he got a phone call. He glanced over at the screen to see who it was, just as Shawn was scurrying across the street, earbuds in, listening to the latest Grisham novel, trying to beat the solid red hand. Bad timing, distractions…we know what happens next. And it could happen to anyone.
Distracted driving happens, and it is now the # 1 cause of car accidents in the U.S. Speeding is # 2. As a business owner, with vehicles on the road, how do you combat this growing trend?
So what’s your #1 Fleet Safety goal for 2020?
- Protect Employees?
- To Protect the Company?
- Reduce Your Costs?
How about all three? Collision-avoidance technology combined with text-deterrent technology and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) 24/7 notices (for suspended licenses) have been shown to dramatically reduce accidents, thereby reducing your company losses and insurance costs.
The Main Culprit
Cell phones are a ubiquitous part of our lives. Despite laws and fines for hand-held cell phone use in many states, the increase in distracted driving shows that these measures are not enough. Yes, there are more than enough other distractions too numerous to mention, but the drastic increase in accidents over the past few years is due to increased cell phone use. A recent report predicted that 6,590 pedestrians were killed on U.S. roads in 2019 – the highest number in more than 30 years!
The U.S. has the most dangerous roads in the industrialized world, with a vehicle fatality rate 40% higher than Canada and Australia. In 1993 the maximum speed limit in the U.S. was 65 mph. Today, 41 states have speed limits above 70 mph, with some states at 80 or 85 mph limits.
Many companies have initiated driver training, dash cams, and telematics (documentation of driving habits) to help bring down their company accident rate. But while these systems may help, they’re not very effective in bringing down their accident rate. But…there are systems which do.
Protect Employees
What if your car alerted you when you got too close to a vehicle – or a pedestrian or cyclist? Or when you strayed over the lane divider without signaling? Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) have been shown to reduce or eliminate employee and pedestrian injuries, preventing major financial losses and increases in insurance.
To ensure that your employees are not texting and driving, new technology is now available that blocks incoming and outgoing texts, but only when your employee is the driver and only when the vehicle is moving. Hands free phone calls can be blocked or allowed. 911 calls and navigation apps are always left open.
| MOST EFFECTIVE PROTECTION | ||
| Audio Alerts (CAS) | Disable Texting | 24/7 Suspended License Alerts |
| Following too close Pedestrian/bicyclists Turns w/o signaling Lane Creeping | Only when driving Allows Telephone calls (if needed) Allows navigation and 911 Stops when vehicle stops | Email or text alert All states Immediate notification Shows reason for suspension |
Protect the Company
In addition, driver behavior has to change. But how? Like Pavlov’s dogs being conditioned to salivate when a bell rings (knowing that a meal is on the way), can humans become better drivers if a bell rings to warn them they’re not driving safely? Wouldn’t it be nice to be alerted when you’re too close to another vehicle/pedestrian/cyclist? Or when you’ve unintentionally started to drive across the lane? Would you like to know at any time, 24/7, if one of your employees has their license suspended? This technology is now available and covers drivers in every state.
After the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety installed CAS in their 22 vehicles, a poll was conducted from the drivers. Their responses were overwhelmingly positive, declaring the CAS “helpful”, “an eye-opener,” “safer”, “improved my driving.” Poor driving behavior CAN be changed.
20 automakers (99 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales) have indicated that some form of CAS will be standard in their vehicles by 2022.
Telematics PLUS Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) actually CHANGES driver behavior.
Reduce Your Costs
With an installed cost of $700-$900 per vehicle – or about $140-$180/year over five years, it’s a small price to pay for eyes and a brain that are ALWAYS focused on their surroundings and don’t get distracted.
Ambu-Trans, a private ambulance service company in New York typically had 35-50 crashes a year, with about $1 million in losses. After installing a Collision Avoidance System (CAS) in their fleet, the results were dramatic. They had 5-6 crashes a year, lowering their losses and insurance rates dramatically.
The Whiners
Yet some drivers complain:
- “These things are too annoying.” So were seat belts at one time, yet like seat belts, the safety features outweigh the annoyance.
- “Drivers will rely too much on these safety features.” And studies have shown that poor driving reminds them NOT to rely on the features. Sort of like potty training.
- “The safety features themselves are too distracting.” That’s when you learn NOT to drive poorly.
So how about it? Wouldn’t you like
- Safer and better drivers?
- Fewer accidents?
- Lower insurance costs?
Rate yourself. All of the listed items in the chart have been shown to improve driving habits.
How many points can you rack up (in a good way!)?
Jim Berriatua is a Risk Management Executive within Gallagher Global Construction Services. Protecting Employees while they drive is one of his focus areas for his clients. CSP, PE, ARM designations.Contact Jim at Jim_Berriatua@ajg.com. For more information on Gallagher, click here.
