We all know the risks of being distracted while operating a vehicle and half of the states have even made the decision to outlaw texting while driving. But for some drivers, a law is not enough to discourage such actions.
Texting while driving poses a huge threat not only to companies that employ drivers and operate fleets, but to others on the road. A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study found that texting while driving increases the risk of being in an accident by 23 times. As the report states, “Anti-texting laws do not protect businesses from irresponsible employees.” So how can you control the actions of your drivers when they’re on the road? Well thanks to RIMS 2010, I found out that there is a device that can actually disable texting capabilities on phones while they are in motion. The name? TextArrest.
What is it?
A smartphone application that automatically switches off text messaging and calling functions while the phone is in motion. It features:
- Integration with a phone’s GPS system to determine the speed of a moving vehicle
- Automatic switching off of text messaging and calling functions after a phone is detected to be traveling faster that 5 mph
- An auto response message from the driver that informs people sending text messages that their messages will be delivered once the user stops driving
Considering that distracted driving is such a problem now, fleet managers and risk managers may want to consider the option of having complete control of their driver’s cell phone use while operating a company vehicle. Smart risk management.
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- Distracted Driving Criminals: Shutterbugs
- Taking Risk to a New Level: Internet on Dashboards
- Distracted Driving on Company Time . . .
Emily Holbrook is co-editor of Risk Management Monitor and editor of Risk Management magazine, where she has worked since 2008. You can read more of her writings at EmilyHolbrook.com. You can follow her on Twitter @RiskMgmtMonitor.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
However it assumes that all the drivers in question will only have a company issued cell phone. There is very little that a company can do before hand to prevent a driver from texting on their personal cell. Only after the fact and it assumes that the company has laid out in the personnel manual the consequences of texting while driving a company car (assuming that they have one a personnel manual) can a company discipline a driver for an accident caused by texting.
Good insight. Thanks Walter.