How Distracted Driving is Costing Your Fleet

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents. Whether a driver is texting or checking emails on their phone, distracted driving poses many safety and financial risks to businesses that operate fleets.

What Is Distracted Driving?

According to the U.S. National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving refers to any activity that diverts attention from driving. Although some distractions are unavoidable, it's crucial for drivers to give their full attention to the road and their surroundings.

Distracted driving can lead to serious road accidents. According to the NHSTA, in 2021 alone, 3,522 people were killed in a motor vehicle accident involving a distracted driver.

Even when distracted driving doesn't result in an accident, it still affects drivers' focus. Your driver may miss a turn or get behind schedule when they take their attention off the road.

What Are the Costs of Distracted Driving to Fleets?

Distracted driving can have significant consequences for your business. According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), traffic crashes caused by distracted driving cost employers $18.8 billion in 2019.

Distracted driving impacts your fleet in several ways:

1. Driver Care & Compensation

If your company vehicle is involved in a distracted driving accident, your driver and any passengers must receive immediate medical care. Any workers' compensation claims that are filed will need to be settled with your driver and any other injured employees.

2. Vehicle Damage

Any vehicle damage will require repairs. Depending on the extent of the damage, replacement parts and bodywork can be very costly. If the vehicle is totaled, you'll have to invest in an entirely new addition to your fleet. Whether the vehicle needs to be repaired or replaced, you'll also have to deal with costly unplanned downtime.

3. Increased Insurance Premiums

Even if an accident is minor, it can increase your insurance expenses, as every new insurance claim raises your premiums. A string of distracted driving incidents will likely cause your premiums to skyrocket.

4. Lawsuits

Liability lawsuits are some of the most expensive legal matters any business can face. These lawsuits are filed by people who were injured or experienced property damage due to the accident. If someone claims your driver caused their injuries or losses, your entire company could be held liable in court.

5. Company Reputation

Distracted driving incidents can tarnish your company's reputation. They may give customers the impression that your company is not reliable or trustworthy, causing you to lose business.

How to Prevent Distracted Driving

Fleet managers must build a culture of safety to prevent distracted driving. Providing ongoing driver education and safety training — both in-house and on the road — is one crucial way to ensure drivers behave safely. You should also set clear policies and guidelines to help everyone understand what's acceptable. Reinforce these policies with reminders and incentives to reduce distracted driving problems.

How Fleet Technology Can Help

Fleet management technology is essential for eliminating distracted driving. Without the right tools, distracted driving can be difficult to detect. When you use fleet management software, you'll get accurate data to help you identify behaviors that might indicate distracted driving.

Fleet management software can send updates and alerts on speeding, braking, idling, and other driver behaviors. When incidents occur, you'll have real-time information about what happened, allowing you to address the situation properly. Data from your fleet management software can also reveal trends in driver behavior that help you determine the best training or coaching to correct the problem.

Keep Your Fleet Safe with Fleet Management Software

We make it easy for you to monitor and manage driver behavior with the Rand Platform. You can find the right fit for your fleet with our scaleable software. We offer tracking and navigation devices for your vehicles that will give you a comprehensive picture of your fleet data. Our devices are also highly portable and can be installed in minutes.

If you're interested in learning more about how the Rand Platform can help your business, contact us to schedule a demo or request pricing.