American Society of Safety Engineers Urge Drivers to Avoid Distractions

Transportation Incidents Are the Number One Cause of On-The-Job-Deaths

DES PLAINES, Ill., Oct. 7 -- Transportation incidents continue to be the number one cause of on-the-job deaths in the U.S. and account for nearly 43 percent of last year's workplace fatalities. In support of the annual Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) Drive Safely Work Week to be held October 7-11, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) urges drivers to avoid distractions and drive safely, and for employers to review their vehicle operation policies. Distracted driving is a contributing factor between 25 and 50 percent of traffic crashes, about 4,000 to 8,000 crashes daily, according to NETS.

Annually, on-the-job traffic crashes result in over 2500 deaths, close to 330,000 injuries and cost employers over $43 billion, according to NHTSA, and can reduce employee productivity by 40 percent. To break it down further, on-the-job traffic crashes annually cost employers about $3.5 billion in property damage, $7.9 million in medical care and emergency service taxes, $17.5 billion for wage premiums, $4.9 billion for workplace disruption (to hire and train either new or temporary employees) and $8.5 billion in disability and life insurance costs, not to mention the unimaginable emotional toll.

While drivers cannot control weather or road conditions, ASSE officials note, they can control their driving habits and should take responsibility for utilizing safe techniques. Tragedies can be prevented by avoiding driver distractions, such as the inappropriate use of electronic devices while driving.

In its 'The Use of Electronic Devices in Motor Vehicles and Safe Driving Practices' policy paper (available at www.asse.org), ASSE recommends businesses take more responsibility for promoting safe driving techniques which include -- 1) increasing public outreach to reinforce the fact that a driver's first responsibility is the safe operation of a vehicle -- this includes school based driver education, which has been drastically reduced the past few years; 2) evaluation of employers' current vehicle operation practices and the creation and enforcement of written guidelines addressing employee use of electronic devices while driving; 3) proactive training of employees about appropriate operation of electronic devices; 4) increased research by the automotive industry and the manufacturers of electronic and other devices that are routinely used in vehicles to improve designs and functions to eliminate driver distractions; and, 5) improved driver education -- a significant component in securing safety on the roadways and in addressing the hazards of using cell phones while driving. Driver education should include training about eliminating or at least minimizing driver distractions and to show the extreme negative impact a slight distraction can have when an accident occurs, such as death or sustaining a lifelong injury and/or brain damage.

Founded in 1911, the non-profit ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment. Its more than 30,000 members manage, supervise, research and consult on safety, health, transportation and environmental issues in all industries, government and education. For more information check ASSE's web site at www.asse.org , NETS at www.netsnational.org , OSHA's workplace statistics at http://www.osha.gov/oshstats/work.html , and NHTSA at www.nhtsa.gov .