As companies consider their health and safety policies for next year, a major focus should be on stopping the practice of using one’s phone and driving. Following the pandemic, many companies elected to continue remote working which creates a number of its own challenges, particularly when it comes to driving while distracted (DWD).
The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says this could present itself in employees using the greater flexibility to simultaneously run personal and work errands or in the demand to constantly be available. “Whatever the situation, it is essential employers are aware of this and strategise ways to protect employees and their companies from the dangers of DWD.
“It is essential to continue raising awareness if the danger of DWD and then implementing strategies that make it impossible, or at least very difficult to do so. This includes being mindful of the pressure you pace on employees to always be available.”
Even companies not working remotely face increased pressure to deal with the rising issue of DWD. “While it is difficult to prove, as one does not know what a driver was doing before a crash, the current stats indicate it is as big a problem as drink driving.
“This is often particularly true of those that drive for work. When one is behind the wheel all day, often the need to use a phone is even greater. As this pressure commonly comes from their company, it is essential that effort is made internally to avoid placing undue pressure to be immediately available when it could wait until the employee has arrived with no ill-consequences.”
Numerous distractions in a vehicle also cause inattentional blindness. “This is where a driver’s attention is removed from the road when day dreaming, using Bluetooth or talking to passengers. Inattentional blindness can cause drivers to miss up to 50% of the vehicles on the road with them. Consequently, if there are 10 cars around you, only five of them are actually visible to you.”
As DWD becomes ever more problematic, companies can no longer solely rely on drivers to make the right decisions. “Instead, it is important to consider technology that makes it impossible to use a phone while driving. MasterDrive believes that this technology has the potential to make the greatest difference in rising DWD figures.
“For this reason, we have joined forces with an international provider of such technology. ping allows employers to block certain applications and allow other, essential ones like navigation apps. Effectively, you are investing in your employees’ safety. With drivers who understand the danger of DWD but do it anyway, this cannot be emphasised more,” says Herbert.
To encourage drivers to stay safe on the roads this festive season, MasterDrive and pingLOUD are giving away five subscriptions to the ping app. To enter email sam@masterdrive.co.za with ping in the subject line. Terms and conditions apply.
