One of employees' most dangerous activities

“No texting behind the wheel” seems like an obvious rule of thumb for motorists. But employees who drive may need more to convince them to keep their eyes on the road.
Just how bad is road texting? Drivers who sent text messages behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to crash than those who don’t, according to a recent study published by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
The study used surveillance footage of 100 truck drivers over the course of 18 months. Researchers said texting is in “its own universe of risk,” much greater than that of other distractions.
But many can’t seem to refrain. While 95% of  people called the practice unacceptable, 21% said they’d recently sent a text or e-mail while driving, according to a survey by AAA.
Hopefully that number’s lower for those who drive as part of their jobs, but there are likely still plenty of offenders out there. What should employers be doing?
First make sure you have a policy consistent with the laws in your area. Several states and localities have bans on cell phone use in the car. The regs vary as far as what is and isn’t allowed.
But beyond that, remind employees of the dangers of distracted driving — and encourage managers to set a good example. For example, they shouldn’t try to call or text employees they know are driving when it isn’t absolutely necessary.