April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

NAFA joins the National Safety Council in recognizing April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and so should every driver be they in fleet or otherwise. Distracted driving can take the forms of texting or talking on cell phones while driving, taking your attention off the road because of others in the car, or any other activity that diverts your attention from the task of driving safely, and is a leading factor involved in automotive crashes.

National Safety Council President & CEO Janet Froetscher will be a Keynote Speaker at NAFA's I&E on Friday, April 26. Under Froetscher’s leadership, the National Safety Council has focused on key safety initiatives, grounded in science, to advance its mission of preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads. These initiatives include the creation of the Journey to Safety Excellence approach to workplace safety – a cycle of improvement that aims for a continuous reduction of risk. Froetscher has also led the Council in taking a leadership role on the issues of distracted and teen driving.

Throughout April organizations and individuals are called upon to urge those they care about to:

Stop using cell phones while driving
Understand the dangers of the cognitive distraction to the brain
Inform people who call you while driving that you'd be happy to continue the conversation once they have reached their destination
Tell others about the dangers of cell phone distracted driving

The NSC is offering free materials through their website that not only describes the effect of distraction on the driver's brain and motor functions, but what you can do about it.

Fleet Managers and supervisors are likewise called upon to know what your organization's driver safety policy consists of, be sure that your drivers are fully compliant with the rules, and have an action plan in place if they are not.

For complete information about the NSC Distracted Driving Awareness Month, visit their website: http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/DDAM.aspx

NAFA Fleet Management Association
125 Village Blvd., Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004