Reducing Distracted Driving at Work

The following Visual distractions cause your eyes wander off the road.²

• Reading a text message
• Looking at directions
• Rubbernecking or looking at a crash site
• Reading billboards

Manual distractions are when you take one or both hands off the wheel while driving.²

• Reaching for things inside the vehicle
• Using a handheld device
• Adjusting the radio
• Eating or drinking
• Applying makeup

These cognitive distractions cause your mind’s focus to drift away from your driving.²

• Talking on the phone
• Chatting with a passenger
• Thinking about your to-do list

Here are some safe driving practices to reduce distracted driving and help prevent accidents.²

• Do not use your phone while driving.
• Pull over in a safe location to look up directions, send a text or make a call.
• Make necessary adjustments (e.g., adjust controls or program directions) to your car before your drive.
• Do not reach to pick up items from the floor, open the glove box, or try to catch falling objects in the vehicle.
• Avoid emotional conversations with passengers or pull over in a safe location to continue the conversation.

Our policyholders and agents have access to an extensive library of safety training videos. Access training videos on distracted driving by entering your username and password. Type Distracted Driving in the search bar for the available videos. Policyholders and agents can request login credentials by emailing [email protected]. (Videos provided through JER HR Group LLC, dba Training Network, a Summit vendor.)

If you would like additional resources, please contact your Summit loss prevention consultant.

1. “The Dangers of Distracted Driving.” Federal Communications Commission (FCC), https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving (Accessed Mar. 8, 2022).
2. “MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AT WORK.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Serv., https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/motorvehicle/topics/distracteddriving/default.html (Accessed March. 8, 2022).

The information presented in this publication is intended to provide guidance and is not intended as a legal interpretation of any federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations applicable to your business. The loss prevention information provided is intended only to assist policyholders of Summit managed insurers in the management of potential loss producing conditions involving their premises and/or operations based on generally accepted safe practices. In providing such information, Summit Consulting LLC does not warrant that all potential hazards or conditions have been evaluated or can be controlled. It is not intended as an offer to write insurance for such conditions or exposures. The liability of Summit Consulting LLC and its managed insurers is limited to the terms, limits and conditions of the insurance policies underwritten by any of them.