Driver Safety: 8 Steps to Reduce Distracted Driving

Thousands of individuals are killed every year as a result of distracted driving.

Some distractions, though, are inescapable. On the road, anything may happen. However, with better driving habits, many of the collisions caused by distracted driving may be avoided. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 650,000 drivers in the United States use their cellphones while driving at any given moment. There isn’t any justification for this.

Share these eight tips with your drivers to help them stay focused and avoid accidents:

1) Don’t multitask

Multitasking while driving can have serious repercussions. As a result, your drivers should have everything they need before starting their day’s journey. They should store their toll money or EZ-pass in a convenient location, and put their coffee in the cup holder where it belongs. Your drivers will need to take their eyes off the road less to look for things if they are well organized.

2) If you’re going to use a phone, use a smartphone

If your drivers are using a route planner app, they won’t be able to just turn off their phones. Smartphones, on the other hand, contain a slew of functions that might help you avoid being distracted by your phone. They can put calls on hold, prevent texting while driving, and send automated text responses, among other things.

Additionally, using route optimization software eliminates the need for your drivers to telephone or text their dispatcher while driving. They’ll have correct, up-to-date directions and will be able to navigate without assistance. Furthermore, with GPS tracking, your dispatchers will no longer need to phone or text your drivers because they will be able to check on their locations directly.

3) Don’t use Bluetooth or voice controls

While Bluetooth and voice instructions allow your drivers to maintain both hands on the wheel, they nonetheless divert their attention away from the task at hand. They should only be used in extreme circumstances.

4) Don’t have serious conversations while driving

On the road, driving (rather than conversing) takes precedence. It’s critical that your drivers don’t have any significant talks or contemplate stressful thoughts while driving to maintain driver safety. They should postpone such chats until they are no longer driving, unless it is an emergency. It’s not worth sacrificing their life or the lives of others, no matter what the topic is.

5) Driving time should be quiet

Music and talk radio are both obnoxious. When your driver is on the job, they should be turned off. They’ll be able to find the proper exit or concentrate on merging easier because they’ll be completely focused on the road.

6) Don’t groom yourself in the car

Because you want to present a professional image for your organization, your drivers should seem clean and professional. They must not, however, dress, shave, or style their hair while driving. Those grooming tasks should be completed at home.

7) Don’t eat while you’re driving

Although it may appear to be less dangerous, eating while driving is just as deadly as texting while driving.

When your drivers eat and drive, there are a slew of things that might go wrong. They won’t be able to keep both hands on the wheel, for starters. This may result in an accident. A driver could even spill food on themselves, causing them to deviate out of their lane or even off the road as a result of their reaction. Food should only be consumed before or after a journey, never while on it.

8) Use a route optimizer

According to research, 78 percent of American drivers had been involved in at least one reckless driving incident. Providing drivers with a convenient and easy-to-follow route with turn-by-turn directions is an efficient strategy to reduce driver stress and the risk of stress-related accidents on the road. Your drivers will be more aware of potential dangers and more prepared to deal with them.

Speaking of route optimizers, earn more about EasyRoutes or install the EasyRoutes local delivery app on the Shopify App Store to start streamlining your local delivery workflows today!