The Solution for Distracted Driving: An Effective Fleet Safety Program

Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Contractors have seen significant increases in commercial auto rates over the last few years. Because of this, it is imperative for companies to implement a written fleet safety program.

The fleet safety program must detail leadership’s expectation of what is required to be a driver for the company and the consequences if the policies are not followed.   

For both the fleet safety program and driver training to be effective and successful, companies should be constantly discussing the policies with all of their employees, not just the employees assigned to a company vehicle.

One topic that should be at the forefront of your driving training program is distracted driving. 

Distracted driving is the leading cause of most vehicle collisions and near collisions. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 80% of collision and 65% of near collisions involve some form of distracted driving. 

There are 3 types of distracted driving:

1. Visual – An example would be taking your eyes off the road.

2. Manual – An example would be taking your hands off the wheel.

3. Cognitive – An example would be taking your mind off driving.

Many of these crashes occur in company vehicles during the working hours and can cause serious problems for both the driver and the company. If the employee is injured, he/she will likely be eligible for workers’ compensation. The company’s auto insurance would pay for damage to the vehicle and potential lawsuits brought on by the bodily suffered by a third party. The quick glance at a cell phone while driving could cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In order to protect your company from these types of losses, the company’s leadership must make a fleet safety program a priority. Have a written cell phone policy. Require employees to put their phone on do not disturb while they are driving, which blocks calls and text messages while their car is in motion. And, train drivers using the SafetyOne™ Distracted Driving online course. Not only can an effective fleet safety program minimize further insurance increases, but most importantly you could save a life.

To learn the essential points of a fleet safety program and defensive driving skills, register for our Fleet Safety Webinar.

For questions about how your fleet safety program affects your commercial auto premiums, contact me at sclayton@ranchomesa.com or (619) 937-0167.

Distracted Driving, Not Just an Automobile Insurance Issue, Bad News for Workers Compensation Too

Author, David J Garcia, A.A.I, CRIS, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

I’ve written at length on the negative effects distracted driving is having on the automobile insurance industry and its impact on the rise in accidents, claim costs, and increases to your automobile premiums. But, have you considered its effects on your Experience Modification Rate (EMR) and ultimately workers’ compensation cost?

When one of your employees is injured in an automobile accident while working on your behalf, Arising out of Employment (AOE) / Course of Employment(COE) their sustained injury will be covered by your workers’ compensation policy, regardless of fault.

“Regardless of fault?!”

When a third party is deemed at fault and the injuries to your employee(s) have been settled, your workers’ compensation insurance carrier may “subrogate” their costs to the carrier representing the at fault driver. Now, here is the realty – studies have shown that 14.7% (4.1 million) of all California drivers are uninsured, while another large percentage of drivers hold the California minimum limits of $15,000/$30,000. What this means is that even if subrogation is a possibility, the likelihood of a “full” recovery is not probable. Thus, all the costs of the injury to your employee(s) will likely be the sole responsibility of your workers’ compensation carrier and this claim cost negatively affects your EMR and loss ratios for years to come.

What can you do?

You can implement a strong fleet safety program that includes a policy pertaining to distracted driving. When your employee is involved in a motor vehicle accident, adherence to your company’s accident investigation protocol is crucial. Documentation will prove pivotal for your carrier if subrogation becomes a possibility.

For our clients, through RM365 Advantage, we have a number of resources: fleet safety programs that can be customized, fleet safety training topics, fillable and printable accident investigation forms, archived fleet safety workshop videos, and more, in both English and Spanish. You can access this through our RM365 Advantage Risk Management Center or contact our Client Services Coordinator Alyssa Burley at aburley@ranchomesa.com.

If you are not a current client of Rancho Mesa, we encourage you to reach out to your broker for assistance or email Alyssa Burley to get additional information or to ask any questions.