Companies Taking The Lead on Distracted Driving

With the dangers evident, some businesses are taking steps to prevent their employees from distracted driving.

2010-12-17

December 17, 2010 (Press-News.org) Florida is currently one of a dwindling number of states that does not regulate the use of cell phones or texting while driving. Each legislative session, bills are proposed which would place restrictions to those who are behind the wheel. Each session these bills fail. Car and truck accidents due to these behaviors continue to rise. With the dangers evident, some businesses are taking steps to prevent their employees from distracted driving.

Recently, the Walt Disney Company banned all of its employees from texting while driving. The ban applies whenever the employee is on-the-clock, even if the employee is driving his or her personal vehicle. Many of those involved in transporting guests on company property already were subject to these rules. More area companies are expected to announce similar initiatives.

Nationally, companies have also begun putting policies in place aimed at eliminating distracted driving, especially in the trucking industry. The federal ban on texting while driving for truck or bus drivers went into place earlier this year, and drivers face potential civil and criminal penalties for violating the rules. With the government putting more aggressive safety regulations in place, trucking companies have responded by strengthening their existing policies.

The Strength in Numbers Fleet Benchmarking Study examined policies of 45 trucking companies in greater detail. Companies that had strict bans in place which carried harsh penalties for those found to be violating the policies, saw their trucking accident rates decrease. Of the top eight companies in the survey, six had procedures in place which allowed the company to terminate a driver for violating company rules. None of the bottom 13 companies in the survey had procedures which allowed the company to terminate a driver caught using an electronic device while driving.

This information could be useful to states such as Florida that have no ban in place. Unless drivers face serious consequences for violating the ban, they may continue to text or use their cell phone while driving. If drivers know that their actions have serious consequences, it may cause them to adopt safer driving habits.

If you have been injured in an accident due to distracted driving, contact an experienced attorney in your area.

Article provided by Culpepper Kurland, PLLC
Visit us at www.ckfirm.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Employers Who Fail to Carry Workers' Comp Insurance Face Steep Penalties

2010-12-17

Most employers in Pennsylvania are legally obligated to secure workers' compensation insurance for the benefit of employees. This mandatory system provides benefits for both workers and companies. By providing coverage for workers, those injured on the job will have access to benefits if they become unable to work and need medical care. In exchange, companies are shielded from liability for injuries their employees suffer while working. However, those who fail to maintain workers' comp insurance and who are not exempt from the requirement can face harsh penalties for ...

What Does Increased Technology Mean for Motorist Safety?

2010-12-17

While some people are addicted to their smart phones, which can offer directions, allow users to surf the Internet and keep emails at their fingertips, others marvel at other technologies that are making basic driving frustrations a thing of the past. Consider the latest GPS technology, electronic anti-lock brake systems and maintenance sensors in today's automobiles. With gadgets and advancements that would even make Batman envious, today's drivers may now be able to focus on other issues on the road. As suggested in a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ...

The Utah Compact: A Wise Acknowledgment of Federal Immigration Authority

2010-12-17

While legislators in several states have lined up to mimic Arizona's controversial state immigration law, a range of voices in one state have proposed a policy approach that recognizes the federal government's proper role as the national gatekeeper. In a statement of principles they have called the Utah Compact, business leaders, prominent public servants, law-enforcement officials and religious figures have endorsed policies based on moderation and civility to counter "the complex challenges associated with a broken national immigration system." The New York Times recently ...

Felony DWI can Result in Painful, Long-Lasting Penalties

2010-12-17

An Attica man recently arrested for felony DWI faces a variety of severe penalties, if convicted. Roland Reed, 40, has two prior DWI convictions and had no valid driver's license at the time of his arrest in mid-October. A DWI is elevated in New York from misdemeanor status to a felony if a person has been convicted of a DWI within the past 10 years. After a first DWI offense, a driver faces stiff penalties and fines: up to a year in jail, license revocation of at least one year and a fine ranging from $500 to $1,000. Escalating Penalties After DWI Conviction The ...

Winter Weather, Holidays Pose Driving Hazards for Chicago-Area Travelers

2010-12-17

Winter weather has made its annual return to Chicago, leaving many Chicago-area drivers in need of a refresher course in safe driving under dangerous weather conditions. Although ice and snow can make the roads more treacherous, drivers can take extra safety precautions to prevent most auto accidents . Remember that bridges may freeze more quickly than normal roads; even if the rest of the roads are just wet, the bridges may have ice. Drive accordingly. Overpasses and tunnels also warrant special consideration and attention; when cars are funneled into narrow spaces, ...

Social Media's Impact on Infidelity and Divorce

2010-12-17

A New Jersey pastor, Reverend Cedric A. Miller, said 20 couples in his congregation of about 1,100 members have experienced marital troubles in the last six months as a result of Facebook. He urged his congregants to delete their Facebook accounts, calling the social networking website a "portal to infidelity". Although this view of Facebook may be extreme, it does lead to the question: Are new technologies bringing us closer together, or tempting us to stray from those who matter most? A recent survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers found that 81 percent ...

U.S. Trails Behind Traffic Safety Improvements of Other Countries

2010-12-17

According to a recent report published by the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council, the United States lags behind many other high-income countries when it comes to reducing deaths from traffic accidents. Researchers examined car accident fatality statistics from 1995 to 2009. In this time, fatal traffic accidents in France dropped 52 percent and 38 percent in the United Kingdom. In contrast, fatal accidents in the United States decreased only 19 percent. In evaluating this disparity, researchers point to a variety of techniques that have reduced ...

California Construction Disputes: Home Buyers and Builders

2010-12-17

When property development is involved, contractors, subcontractors, and homeowners should all understand how to protect their rights. Liens and warranties are popular methods utilized. Mechanics Liens In the context of construction, most liens are known as "Mechanics Liens." These documents place a financial (security) interest on the title to the real property for work or materials. A contractor has a right to satisfaction of their lien before the property can be sold. California is currently one of many states overhauling their mechanic's liens statutes. In 2011, ...

The World's First Wine Investing Magazine - FINESt WINEs Magazine

2010-12-17

FINEst WINEs - the only wine investing and collecting magazine in the world. "There are over 800,000 people in the world who buy regularly fine wines from auctions and wine shops as investment, but there is no unbiased authority or reliable source who is telling what or where to buy, when to buy, when to sell, where to sell or how to recognize fake bottles or what is the current drinkability of finest investment wines etc. - those are the reason why we decided to publish FINEst WINEs magazine. The world needs unbiased and up-to-date knowledge of the finest investment ...

Paxil Birth Defects - What Parents Should Know - Paxil.LawsuitInformation.org

2010-12-17

First-time parents have this fear that their babies will be born with a birth defect. Imagine if their worst fear should materialize. Recent studies have shown that women who take Paxil during the first three months of gestation are more likely to give birth to babies with Paxil birth defects, as compared to women who do not take any antidepressants during pregnancy. These Paxil birth defects can be life-threatening, and may include serious congenital problems, the most common of which are Paxil heart defects. What is Paxil? Paroxetine Hydrochloride, or better ...

Companies Taking The Lead on Distracted Driving

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: