Rising Concerns with Distracted Drivers - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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Rising Concerns with Distracted Drivers

Authored by Claire F. Martin, of Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C., H.R. Advisors to NALP members. This article appears in the September/October issue of the Landscape Professionals Magazine. 

Many industries require their employees to drive, either their own vehicles or company-owned vehicles, as a part of their job duties. However, the landscape industry is one industry that overwhelmingly requires its employees to drive for the job. With the rise of smartphones and the ability to multitask while driving, drivers, employers, and legislatures have grown more concerned about distracted drivers.

Know the Law

For example, 16 states have banned the use of a handheld cellphone while driving. Generally, these laws prohibit a driver from physically holding a cellphone; writing, sending, or reading text-based communications; watching a video or movie; or recording a broadcast while driving. Essentially, the laws only allow drivers to make and receiving phone calls in a hands-free manner. While some drivers might find these laws intrusive, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds these laws warranted. In 2016, distracted driving caused 3,450 deaths.

Employers Have Major Liability Issues

Employers face an even greater risk of liability when their employees drive distracted. When a distracted driver causes an accident and harm to others because of their distracted driving while on the job, it is highly common for victims to not only sue the driver, but also the driver’s employer. The rise of lawsuits and jury awards against employers for their employees’ distracted driving has resulted in employers taking serious efforts to address and prevent distracted driving by their employees.

Create a Distracted Driver Policy

The first step is to develop a distracted driving policy. A clear, formal, written policy outlining the do’s and don’ts of mobile device use and other driving distractions helps mitigate your liability as an employer and protects the safety of your employees and other drivers.

Be specific as to what is prohibited and permitted while operating a vehicle on company business. Employers also need to communicate the policy and the consequences of violating the policy to employees early and often and have supervisors ensure employees fully understand the policy.

At the most basic level, these policies should reflect any state laws. Even if your state does not have such a law in place, the easiest way to protect yourself and your employees is to prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving on company business, driving in company-provided vehicles, or with regard to work-related communications.

No Tolerance Policy for Cell Use While Driving

Companies that prohibit all cell phone use, hands-free or not, allow employees to first find a safe place to park their vehicle before initiation or responding to any calls, text messages or emails.

Employers also require employees to have automatic responses on their cell phones to respond to calls or text messages while the employee is driving or implement Bluetooth technology in vehicles or on cellphones.

Because cellphones will only become smarter and will continue to provide us with instant communication and entertainment, this issue is not going away, particularly for the landscape workers who are required to drive to their job sites daily. If you do not have a distracted driving policy in place, now is the time. While liability is always a concern, safety is the paramount concern, and this is an easy first step you can take.