Case Study Reveals Dramatic Shift In Company’s Safety Culture

Handheld phone use while driving is destructive. Driver safety is compromised, and the collisions that inevitably result from these distractions steal large chunks from a company’s bottom line. Distracted driving causes over 1.6 million collisions (NSC) and costs Americans almost $129 billion in property damage and medical care every year. It is the goal of every business (especially those who employ a fleet of vehicles) to protect employees and mitigate risk.

Last year, one such business (an established Louisiana construction company) reached its tipping point. Plagued by a growing number of annual crashes, they knew they needed to make a change for the betterment of their fleet, and fast.

Allowing their company safety culture to spiral to new lows every year was a ticking time bomb, and it was clear that the revolving door that results from constant disciplinary action of otherwise good employees was not the solution. So, what was?

Having identified the likely culprit for the uptick in driver mishaps, management set out to eliminate the risk of smartphone distraction in company vehicles once and for all. “We wanted to do something to change that behavior right away,” said the company’s fleet manager. “But it had to be the right solution. [We] realized that education had to be part of it, that we couldn’t just force a solution that would be unacceptable to our employees. That’s when they read about ORIGO online.”

The only physical preventative solution to distracted driving, the ORIGO drives a wedge between use of the vehicle and handheld use of the phone. In short, if the phone isn’t docked in the ORIGOSafe, thecar or truck isn’t going anywhere.

After a successful trial with ORIGOSafe in their personal vehicles, management rolled out the solution to their whole fleet. And then there was quiet. Not a single crash has occurred since the solution was implemented over 12 months ago. Only two employees have been disciplined for noncompliance with the solution. The company measured an incredible 2,200% return on investment in the solution.

What was especially remarkable about this case study is that which can’t be measured, but clearly occurred over these 12 months with the ORIGOSafe: a dramatic shift for the better in the company’s overall safety culture. “ORIGOSafe implementation did certainly have a positive effect on safety and did prevent texting while driving; however, the positive psychological aspects of changed behaviors were another significant factor. The overall safety culture of the company was changed; our drivers now think more in terms of being safer drivers, so everyone wins. I cannot emphasize enough how important we feel that the change in mind-set is, going beyond simple compliance.”

Clay Skelton, Founder and President of ORIGO, says “We are very passionate about providing a true solution to the distracted driving epidemic. Early on, it became obvious that too many drivers are willing to take extreme risks to communicate via text while driving a car or truck, with little regard for safety. For those companies that have implemented our solution, they have not only saved lives and money, but have actually changed the mind-set of their drivers to a more responsible and safety-conscious awareness of their own driving habits. And we feel that this is the greatest benefit of all.”