More and more business fleet operators are researching how to prevent distracted driving for their business fleet – and the deployment of RouteSavvy route planning software is an affordable way to reduce fleet operating costs, make more money, and reduce distracted driving for commercial drivers.
Did You Know:
When your business fleet driver takes their eyes off the road for 5 seconds at 55 MPH, it’s like driving the length of a football field with their eyes closed.
(Source: National Highway Transportation Safety Association.)
What Is Distracted Driving?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines distracted driving as anything that takes your attention away from driving. The top 3 types of distraction include:
- Visual Distractions – Taking your eyes off the road to look at a web map, change the music channel, or look at a text.
- Manual Distractions – Manual distractions occur when a driver takes his/her hands off the wheels to text, manipulate their smartphone, grab food & more.
- Cognitive Distractions – Activities that take the driver’s mind off of driving, including navigating, interacting with a navigation device, listening to music, and more.
Commercial drivers handling deliveries, pickups, service calls, or sales calls can be exposed to all 3 types of driving distractions. This is why it’s so important to learn how to prevent distracted driving, and then implement protocols to help drivers focus on the road.
The High Costs of Distracted Driving: Why Fleet Operators Should Make It A Priority to Prevent Distracted Driving for Fleets
Distracted driving has been studied intensively in recent years, and the numbers don’t lie. The costs of distracted driving are enormous. Here are some rather mind-boggling statistics on the costs of distracted driving.
- Drivers are 3 times more likely to get into a car crash when performing manual-visual tasks like reaching for a phone or watching a web map while driving. (Source: Virginia Tech Transportation Institute)
- 9 people die in car crashes every day in the United States due to distracted driving. (Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.)
- 1,000 people are injured car crashes every day in the United States due to distracted driving. (Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
How RouteSavvy Helps Prevent Distracted Driving for Fleets
Most folks know that RouteSavvy Route Optimization Software helps fleets operate more efficiently by saving time and money. Route optimization software tools like RouteSavvy generate more efficient routes. More efficient routing saves gas, saves mileage-related fleet vehicle maintenance costs, and enables organizations to get more work done per week. An added benefit of route optimization software is that it helps prevent distracted driving for fleets by providing audio turn-by-turn navigation. Here’s how:
- The fleet manager develops an optimized route for fleet drivers using RouteSavvy.
- That optimized route can be provided in a print-out.
- That optimized route also can be ported to a driver’s smartphone or tablet.
- Smartphones that have a navigation app installed (Google Maps or Waze) can then provide audio of turn-by-turn navigation instructions to the stops listed in the optimized route.
- Turn-by-turn navigation instructions provided out loud eliminates the need for fleet drivers to watch a mapping screen so they can keep their eyes on the road.
Benefits of Route Optimization Functions That Help Prevent Distracted Driving in Fleets
There are obvious benefits to programs & technologies like route optimization software that help prevent distracted driving in fleets. These benefits make it an imperative that organizations learn how to prevent distracted driving by their drivers.
- Improves safety
- Saves lives
- Potentially reduces insurance premiums thanks to less accidents
The bottom line is that route optimization software tools like RouteSavvy.com play an important role in helping prevent distracted driving in fleets. When organizations & fleet managers explore ways to how to prevent distracted driving, it saves time, money & lives.
If you’ve not yet tried RouteSavvy, sign up for our Free 14-day Trial.
