Mobile phone usage—calling, reading and sending messages— distracts drivers in both personal and commercial vehicles. The hazards of such behavior in commercial vehicles are extreme due to the amount of time on the road, the distance traveled, the gross vehicle weight, and the type of cargo being transported.
To reduce your company’s accident exposure and limit your commercial auto insurance premiums, drivers should follow some simple steps:
• Never fumble with a phone or other device while driving.
• If communicating while driving is absolutely necessary, go hands-free with an earpiece, speaker phone or Bluetooth function.
• Use voice activation. Being able to make or end a call—or even send a text—by talking keeps your eyes on the road.
• Take advantage of phone override programs. Programs like Toyota’s Entune, Ford’s Sync, etc., in addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology, can be activated to move all functions to the vehicle itself and practically deactivate your phone while driving.
