In August, more than 2,000 National Safety Council members responded to a survey on employee use of wireless communication devices while driving. Below are some highlights:
The results
- 58% of respondents have some kind of cell phone ban in place.
- 469 companies prohibit both handheld and hands-free devices while driving for some or all employees.
- 99% of companies that ban both handheld and hands-free devices have experienced no decrease in employee productivity.
- More than one-third of respondents without any policy expect to implement one within the next 12 months.
Handheld vs. Hands-free
Half of the respondents currently prohibiting only handheld devices report they are “somewhat” to “very likely” to upgrade their policies to include banning hands-free phones. NSC does not support policies that ban only hands-free devices. The best practice is to ban all cell phone use while driving. Research has shown there are no safety benefits to hands-free phones. The distraction comes from the conversation itself more than where the driver’s hands are placed.
- Is a hands-free phone safer than a handheld phone?
- Hand-Held or Hands-free? The Effects of Wireless Phone Interface Type on Phone Task Performance and Driver Preference
Perceived Obstacles
Two barriers to implementing policies commonly reported in the survey were productivity and employee acceptance.
Productivity
As mentioned above, only 1% of respondents experienced a decrease in productivity. A few companies actually had productivity increases. One company mentioned an unexpected benefit – decreased expenses for wireless devices.
Employee Acceptance
Recent outside surveys have measured public support for hands-free, handheld and text messaging bans. These surveys also offer insight into driver attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.
- Nationwide’s third annual Driving While Distracted Survey
- 2009 Traffic Safety Culture Index
- The 2009 Harris Poll
Next Steps
Using cell phones while driving has become part of American culture, but businesses can help lead the cultural change. NSC has created a free downloadable Cell Phone Policy Kit to guide you through the implementation or upgrade process. The kit includes:
- Ready-to-use Sample Policies
- An executive summary and PowerPoint presentation to present to senior management
- A variety of roll-out communications for employees, including posters, articles, voicemail greetings, etc.
- A one-hour course including instructor and participant guides, and a PowerPoint presentation
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