Safety: Vehicle Safety

Protecting your Business

Did you know that “sending a text message takes a driver’s eyes off of the road for an average of five seconds? That’s similar to driving the length of a football field at 55 mph with your eyes closed.” Got your attention, yet?

“Commercial Fleet Managers in all industry groups, including the wood and lumber industry, have growing concerns regarding the issue of distracted driving.” And the Loss Control experts at Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (PLM/ILM), in a safety brochure entitled, “Distracted Driving – Protecting your Business,” are providing information to raise awareness.

Did you know that:

· “Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones, and other portable devices, tripled the risk of getting into a crash.

· A total of 76.6 percent of commercial vehicle accidents occurred on a clear day. And the highest percentage of accidents occurred just before lunch, between 11 a.m. and noon, for both sales and fleet drivers.

· The relative risk of being in a traffic accident while using a cellphone is similar to the hazard associated with driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit.

· A recent study estimated nine percent of drivers (or 1.2 million) are visibly speaking into either a handheld or hands-free mobile device.”

PLM/ILM is a property and casualty insurance provider to the lumber, woodworking and building material industries. For further information, contact the Loss Control Services Department at 800.752.1895.