Distracted Driving: Managing Inattention Blindness – Security

One of many largest dangers your drivers may take is driving distracted. Distracted driving results in rushing, tickets, operating purple lights, and inflicting accidents. Worse but, it is a main reason for deadly collisions. With how widespread distracted driving is, a few of your drivers are virtually assured to be responsible of it. 

If you would like a fleet of drivers who forestall accidents and stay attentive, it’s essential to educate them on combating distracted driving and inattention blindness.

On this article, you’ll study:  

• What distracted driving is.
• Why distracted driving is harmful.
• What inattention blindness is and what causes it.
• Methods for combating distracted driving and inattention blindness.

What’s Distracted Driving?

All of us have an picture of distracted driving in our head: texting or speaking on the cellphone, on the lookout for one thing in your automobile, and many others. Nonetheless, the truth is that distracted driving can embody many actions that we think about innocent.

Distracted driving is outlined as any exercise that pulls your focus away from the duty of driving. Distracted driving contains: 

• Texting and driving
• Speaking on the cellphone (hands-free or in any other case)
• Daydreaming
• Speaking to passengers
• Consuming or ingesting
• Taking a look at one thing on the facet of the highway 
• Adjusting the A/C or radio
• Programming a GPS
• The rest that takes your thoughts, eyes, or palms away from driving.

These actions are commonplace for many drivers however considerably improve the chance of inflicting an accident.

The Risks of Distracted Driving 

Distracted driving is essentially the most harmful factor your drivers can do. Listed here are some statistics to again up that declare: 

• The Nationwide Excessive Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) studies that distracted driving led to three,308 deadly crashes in 2022.
• In line with the NHTSA, 9 folks die on daily basis from distracted driving.
• One in each 5 folks killed in a distracted driving collision should not in a automobile — they’re pedestrians, cyclists, or in any other case outdoors of their autos.
• It is estimated that texting and driving are six instances extra more likely to trigger an accident than drunk driving.

It may be obscure how these statistics impression us. Anonymous statistics are sometimes not as alarming as they need to be. So, let’s body it this manner. Think about if a deadly distracted driving collision was attributable to one in all your workers. How would that impression your group? How would that impression you personally?

Distracted driving is a serious obstruction to making a secure firm, however you do not have to just accept it as a actuality of operating a fleet. You’ll be able to work to forestall distracted driving along with your workers.

Inattention Blindness – Why Distracted Driving is Harmful 

It is evident that distracted driving is harmful, however what makes it harmful? One of many largest causes distracted driving will increase threat is as a result of it results in inattention blindness.

Inattention blindness causes us to overlook very important data in our driving setting. When distracted, we’re conscious of fewer dangers, even when we’re wanting proper at them. 

Research present that distracted drivers will, on common, solely see and acknowledge 50% of the automobiles on the highway with them. Drivers do not register the opposite autos as a result of they’re centered on one thing else. 

Attributable to inattention, that is the equal of driving with 100 automobiles on the highway, however 50 are invisible to the driving force, growing the chance of crashes.

Inattention blindness can occur when your drivers are: 

• Daydreaming 
• Speaking on the cellphone (even with hands-free gadgets)  
• Speaking to passengers
• Utilizing a navigation gadget 
• Texting

How one can Handle Inattention Blindness 

If you would like your drivers to have fewer accidents, you want them to keep away from distractions. Distractions trigger inattention blindness, and inattention blindness causes critical accidents. So, how do you guarantee your organization has attentive, defensive drivers? 

Listed here are a number of methods you may implement to coach drivers to keep away from distractions.

Efficient Defensive Driving Coaching 

Your drivers have to be made conscious of how critical driving is. In addition they want instruments to assist them keep away from distractions. 

Firms that need to cut back collisions ought to put money into defensive driving coaching and schooling. Your drivers in all probability suppose they’re secure, attentive drivers. Chances are high, they don’t seem to be. 

It is advisable educate your drivers on the next: 

• How harmful distracted driving is, thus encouraging them to keep away from distractions.
• What’s inattention blindness, and the way typically does it occur to folks?
• The varied sorts of distractions that result in inattention blindness, corresponding to daydreaming or speaking on the cellphone. 
• The truth that driving just isn’t a passive exercise.
• How can they modify their level of focus each two to a few seconds to keep away from driving with a set stare and stay centered? 
• How can they examine their mirrors each 5 to eight seconds to see their complete setting?

Regardless that a lot of your drivers in all probability suppose they’re secure from distracted driving simply because they do not textual content and drive, this can be a harmful mindset to have. It is advisable educate your drivers so that they know in any other case. 

Onboarding And New-Rent Alignment 

When you’re a vocational fleet of non-CDL autos, chances are high, your drivers do not see themselves as drivers. They see themselves as plumbers, electricians, pest management specialists, or some other main job operate. 

Whereas that is perhaps their title, they should understand that driving is essentially the most harmful factor they do. Nothing is extra vital than stopping accidents. 

If you would like workers who keep away from distractions and stop inattention blindness, do the next with new hires: 

• Clarify the significance of driving to them. 
• Set your expectations with them that they’re skilled drivers. 
• Have them signal a pledge to stay attentive behind the wheel. 
• Implement and implement a strict no-phones coverage whereas driving.

Occasion Video Recorders 

Firms with a fleet of drivers typically put money into occasion video recording software program. 

Occasion video recorders are cameras that file and retailer any g-force occasion like exhausting braking or collisions. They’re typically used to show your driver wasn’t at fault in a collision, however they will additionally catch dangerous habits. 

Occasion video recorders will assist you discover and proper unsafe behaviors that result in inattention blindness, like driving with a set stare or speaking on the cellphone. That means, you may appropriate dangerous habits earlier than they result in an accident.

Correct Choice & Hiring Course of 

Correct onboarding, coaching, and occasion video recorders are vital in decreasing distracted driving. Nonetheless, for a choose few people, there’s nothing you are able to do to persuade them to place the cellphone down or to maintain their concentrate on the highway. They’re keen to just accept the chance of inattention blindness and distracted driving. 

You will need to guarantee you do not hand over the keys to those of us. 

A correct choice and hiring course of will assist you discover the perfect risk-averse candidate who takes their position as an expert driver critically. 

Listed here are some choice and hiring processes that will help you rent the suitable individual:

• Structured interviews
• Checking MVRs earlier than hiring
• Self-directed persona assessments 
• Situational judgment checks

Put money into Defending Your Folks 

Distracted driving and inattention blindness current a serious threat to firms. These dangers result in elevated loss prices, tarnished firm popularity, staff’ comp, and even court docket appearances. Nonetheless, you do not have to just accept inattention blindness as a truth of life at your organization. 

When you educate your drivers on defensive driving, align them along with your security tradition, and solely rent risk-averse workers, you may benefit from the peace of thoughts that comes with decrease accidents and value of loss. 

You may save time, cash, and complications whereas defending your folks.

Editor Word: This text was initially revealed in October 2021 and has been up to date for continued relevancy on distracted driving and associated statistics.