How Fleet Solutions Can Help Prevent Distracted Driving

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 3,308 people were killed and nearly 290,000 people were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers In 2022. The NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.” According to the Michigan State Police, there are three main types of distracted driving, visual (taking your eyes off the road), manual (taking your hands off the wheel), and cognitive (taking your mind off the drive). A variety of actions fall under these criteria; however, texting is by far the most frequent and the most alarming distraction since it falls under all three. In Michigan, holding or manually using a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle is a primary offense. This means an officer can stop and ticket drivers for this violation — the first violation is a $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service. 

Distracted driving is a big concern for fleet managers, who want to ensure their drivers safety and keep insurance claims low. When it comes to distracted driving, staying proactive is essential, by implementing fleet solutions like dash cams and GPS fleet tracking systems you can mitigate the risk of distracted driving. Installing camera systems in your vehicles helps train your drivers and set the precedent of good driving habits. Safety Track’s AI Mobile DVRs are equipped with lane departure warnings, collision warnings, and driver distraction detection — providing instant feedback to drivers and customizable alerts to fleet managers. Even if you are not worried about your own drivers partaking in distracted driving, there is still the risk of others on the road. If an accident occurs, having a dash cam can prove that your driver was not at fault and reduce insurance claims. Overall, it is important to stay vigilant when it comes to preventing poor driving habits and distracted driving — investing in fleet solutions is the first step in doing so.