Business community unites to keep workers safe on the road

A coalition of Australian road safety authorities, research institutes, motoring clubs, peak medical bodies, insurance and telecommunications companies has released a comprehensive national Mobile Phone Use in Vehicles Policy Guide to protect workers from unsafe driving conditions while on the job.

The Guide and Safe Use of Mobiles in Vehicles campaign, which was launched by the National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP), outlines how organisations can manage the risk of mobile phone distraction in vehicles by developing and successfully implementing a policy tailored to their business environment and worker needs.

Vehicles represent one of the greatest risks to workers, with two-thirds of all work-related fatalities involving a vehicle. One-third of these fatalities occur on public roads, while another third take place on private roads.

Australian businesses are therefore being urged to take advantage of the guide to ensure their workers are aware of unsafe driving practices and that organisations are providing a safe vehicle environment to minimise risk.

“Illegal and unsafe mobile phone use while driving remains a major road safety concern across Australia, despite increased penalties and pleas from police about the serious risks of drivers taking their eyes off the road to text or dial a handheld phone,” said Jerome Carslake, manager of the NRSPP.

“Through this initiative, we’re giving the business community the tools to take a proactive approach to educating workers about the risks from unsafe phone use, while also providing practical advice about how to realistically manage those risks in a professional environment.”

The guide advises the use of Bluetooth and hands-free while driving, installing a cradle for the phone and only pulling over to answer a call if it is safe to do so.

It also covers critical implementation steps such as identifying the current mobile phone culture, promotion of leadership from the top, employee education, and incentives and consequences for workers who meet or fail to comply with driving laws. The NRSPP will promote adoption of the new guide through its 1500-strong partnership spanning private companies, industry bodies, research institutes and government organisations and initiatives.

The Safer Use of Mobiles in Vehicles Working Group (SUMV) is led by the NRSPP in conjunction with supporting partners the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB Group), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA), Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA), Hard Edge, Optus, Futureye, IAG, RACV, Telstra, Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Vodafone.

“The SUMV recognised that workplace blanket bans on mobile phone use while driving were not always practical and changing the conversation to education and practical advice was essential to empowering workers to use their devices legally and responsibly, when they feel it is safe to do so,” said Carslake.

“We are not advocating for the use of mobile phones in vehicles but that drivers and organisations need to be informed and understand the risks. It’s critical that there are clear processes in place to ensure the demands of a business’s operations do not encourage employees to use mobile phones illegally or in an unsafe manner.”

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Oleksiy Mark