Safety
April Is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month: Help Employees Stay Focused, Safe While Driving
Driving may be the most hazardous task of the job for many of your employees. Help them minimize the risk to themselves and others. Take part in promoting safe driving at work by observing National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April.
Distracted driving is a largely preventable cause of auto collisions that could save thousands of lives each year:
- 3,522 people were killed and 362,415 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2021.*
- Auto physical damage and liability claims continue to be the most frequent type of claim members report to MCIT. Some of these claims include incidents resulting in severe injuries and even fatalities.
Make a Plan
For the month of April schedule various activities to raise awareness among staff about the dangers of distracted driving and strategies to improve their driving safety. Consider these ideas:
- Review driving policies with staff, including reminding employees that it is illegal to hold a mobile device while driving in Minnesota.
- Encourage supervisors to conduct a refresher safety discussion about distracted driving at the start of a workweek. The MCIT Quick Take on Safety for distracted driving is a ready-to-use script and handout available at no cost.
Download Distracted Driving Quick Take
- Schedule defensive driving training. In-person classes are provided to MCIT members at no cost. Defensive driving goes beyond following traffic laws. It involves anticipating situations and staying focused on the task of driving.
Learn More and Contact MCIT to Schedule Training
- Use distracted driving awareness campaign materials provided by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including videos, posters and digital images.
Visit NHTSA Distracted Driving Page
- Get involved with The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, a public-private nonprofit partnership dedicated to reducing traffic deaths and injuries. It is administered by the Minnesota Safety Council. NETS offers a variety of materials to help increase awareness about distracted driving and reduce traffic accidents due to other causes.
Learn More
For more information about how MCIT can help you reduce work-related auto incidents and injuries, contact your MCIT loss control consultant (but not while driving please).