How Can Distracted Workers Cause Car Accidents?

Injuries resulting from a worker crashing into you or otherwise damaging your car may occur because of a number of distractions.

From cell phone usage to long work hours, employees on the road are at risk for causing serious accidents.

Types Of Distractions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, searching for directions on your phone or replying to a phone call from your boss can cause someone to lose control of his or her vehicle. Distraction is a significant reason for around 52% of crashes.

Stressed employees who are behind schedule can speed or take sharp turns, increasing the likelihood that a crash will occur. Trying to eat a quick meal while steering also leaves you at risk for a shortened reaction time.

Reasons For Crashes

Long hours on the road lead to many discussions happening by phone, either with friends or clients. An employee that is attempting to negotiate work-related matters while driving could easily a miss a sign or ram into another vehicle.

Rubbernecking, or getting distracted by, another car crash may even lead to an accident. Any distraction is only exacerbated by the use of a cell phone or a conversation with a passenger.

Paying Attention

While driving, our full attention should be on the road. If someone is talking or texting while driving, his or her attention is automatically split between handling the vehicle and focusing on the conversation.

Continual hours of driving on highways, especially at night, can throw off a driver’s focus. Not only is it important to be aware of safety measures, but it is also essential that employees do not drift off to sleep on long drives of open roads.