Cell Phone Use | 4
Driver Safety
Cell Phone Use
Driver Safety – Cell Phone Use
Many states have restricted or are considering restrictions on cell phone use while driving a vehicle. The legislation assumes that using a cell phone while driving (dialing, holding, talking or texting) is a significant distraction.
Consider the following facts:
· In 1990, there were 4 million cell phone users, by 2005 there were over 190 million cell phone users and as of June 2011, there are 327,577,529 users in the United States.
· Studies indicate that using cell phones while driving can distract drivers from what is going on around them.
· A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study found that during daylight hours 1.2 million people are using cell phones while driving, that is about 8 percent of all drivers.
· A University of Utah study found that motorists using cell phones were 18 percent slower in braking and required 17 percent more time to regain the speed they lost while braking.
· Another study by the University of Utah found that in simulated driving conditions, drivers using a cell phone were more likely to be involved in a rear end collision than those same drivers were when they did not use a cell phone while driving.
Hands-Free Cell Phones
Hand-free cell phones that are voice activated have been considered safer to use than regular cell phones. However, the following indicates that this is not true:
· The University of Utah study indicated that drivers using hands-free phones were not as likely to remember seeing billboards, signs or pedestrians as those not using a cell phone.
· The NHTSA found that motorists using hands-free cell phones redialed calls 40 percent of the time, compared to 18 percent for drivers using handheld devices. Motorists that have hands-free cell phones talk more since the phones are easier to use.
Laws Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving
Many countries around the world ban or restrict the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. As of December 2010, no state has completely banned all cell phone use while driving. All cell phone use includes handheld cell phones, hands-free cell phones and texting. However, eight states have banned the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Eighteen states have banned all cell phone use by bus drivers. Twenty-eight states have banned all cell phone use for drivers younger than 18. Thirty states have banned all text messaging while driving.
The National Safety Council has come out with a position statement on multitasking which addresses the use of cell phones while driving.
“. . . a driver’s first responsibility is the safe operation of the vehicle and the best practice is to not use electronic devices including cell phones while driving. When on the road, drivers shall concentrate on safe and defensive driving and not on making phone calls . . .”
Although there are no regulatory requirements for training regarding cell phones, if your company has a cell phone policy, the employees must know it.
Training Tips:
· If your company has a cell phone policy, review the policy and be sure to give each employee a copy.
· Review your state’s laws regarding cell phone usage while driving.
· Review the Handout.
· Ask attendees about their experiences while driving and using a cell phone or with other drivers who were using a cell phone while behind the wheel.
More Information:
National Safety Council - http://www.nsc.org/ (search for cell phones and driving)
Links to State Highway Safety Offices - http://www.ghsa.org/html/links/shsos.html
Governors Highway Safety Association - http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html
Driver Safety - Cell Phone Use Handout
Many states are considering restricting the use of cell phones while driving. It may not be such a bad idea when you consider the following:· Studies show that using a cell phone while driving can lead to accidents because drivers are distracted.
· Motorists using cell phones were 18 percent slower in braking and required 17 percent more time to regain lost speed than drivers who were not using cell phones.
· Motorists using a cell phone were more likely to be involved in a rear-end collision than when those same drivers were not using a cell phone.
Hands-Free Cell Phones
· Drivers using hands-free phones were not as likely to remember seeing billboards, signs or pedestrians as those not using a phone.
· Motorists using hands-free cell phones redialed 40 percent of the time, compared to 18 percent for drivers using hand-held phones.
Studies show that drivers using hands-free phones and hand-held phones are equally impaired, missing more traffic signals and reacting more slowly than drivers who do not use cell phones.
Your Experience
Think about times you have seen someone driving while dialing or talking on a cell phone.
· Were they driving safely?
· Did they drive erratically?
· Did you think that their reaction times were affected?
Your employer will discuss any existing cell phone use policy which you must follow if you are operating a company vehicle.
Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) – Distracted Driving Laws
State / Hand-held Ban / Cell Phone Ban-Novice Driver / Text Messaging Ban- All Drivers / Text Messaging Ban-Novice Drivers
Alaska / Yes (Primary) / Covered under All Drivers
California / Yes (Primary) / <18 (Secondary) / Yes (Primary) / Covered under All Drivers
Idaho1 / Yes (Primary) / Covered under All Drivers
Montana
Oregon / Yes (Primary) / <18 (Primary) / Yes (Primary) / Covered under All Drivers
South Dakota / Learner or Intermediate License (Secondary) / Learner or Intermediate License (Secondary)
Washington / Yes (Primary) / Learner or Intermediate License (Primary) / Yes (Primary) / Covered under All Drivers
Wyoming / Yes (Primary) / Covered under All Drivers
1 Idaho has a "Distraction in/on Vehicle (List)" attribute as part of its Contributing Circumstances element, and officers are supposed to list the distractions in the narrative.
Driver Safety – Cell Phone Use Sign–Off Sheet
The employees of ______Company Name______, have taken part in a training session on Driver Safety – Cell Phone Use. The session covered:
· The increase in the use of cell phones by the operators of vehicles.
· The hazards of using cell phones while driving.
· State laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving.
· Any company policies regarding cell phone use while operating company vehicles.
Date of Training: / Facility:Employee Signature / PRINT NAME
______
Supervisor’s Signature