Business Related Distracted Driving News

  • Oct 10
    ORIGO's launch covered by Fleet Owner!

    A Virginia-based company called Origo (Latin for “to begin a journey”) has introduced a new solution for eliminating texting and hand-held mobile phone usage while driving. The unveiling took place here yesterday at the annual American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition.

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  • Oct 08
    VIDEO: UPS circle of honor drivers

    Veteran UPS Drivers weigh in on their experiences with distracted drivers, and how to keep yourself safe with distracted drivers on the road.

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  • Oct 08
    Employers "foolish" to let drivers use cell phones and drive

    “Cellphone use in a catastrophic case is going to be gasoline on the fire,” said Clements, who wouldn’t reveal the settlement paid by Cable One, a subsidiary of The Washington Post Co. “You’ve just ratcheted up your exposure and the essential value of the case exponentially.” 

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  • Oct 08
    Truck drivers 23 times more likely to crash while texting

    Several large-scale, naturalistic driving studies -- using sophisticated cameras and instrumentation in participants' personal vehicles -- conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, provide a clear picture of driver distraction and cell phone use under real-world driving conditions, according to the institute.  Combined, these studies continuously observed drivers for more than 6 million miles of driving.

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  • Oct 08
    Companies pay the price for distracted driving

    Distracted driving lawsuits are now commonplace in the legal landscape. Companies and organizations that manage large fleets are vulnerable to legal costs every mile and minute they drive. Lawyers are increasingly striking deep into the pockets of corporations that allow employees to talk or text while driving company vehicles.

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  • Oct 03
    Federal Employees Banned from Cell Phone Use While Driving

    Due to a recent executive order from President Obama, federal workers will now be banned from texting and driving while they are on government business, or while they use cars provided by the government.  In addition to federal employees, the federal government intends to ban bus and truck drivers from operating cell phones except for emergency purposes.

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  • Oct 03
    Ford Motor Company Supports Texting Ban While Driving

    The Ford Motor Company is one of the first among automakers to endorse a federal ban on communicating via text messages while driving.  The auto giant recently issued a statement supporting proposed legislation introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) that would reduce federal highway funding by 25 percent to states that did not comply with a aban on sending text messages while driving.  The auto company has backed similar legislation introduced in the House by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).  Susan Cischke, Ford's vice-president of sustainability, environment, and safety engineering, points to research that shows that any activity, such as texting, that take drivers; eyes away from the road for an extended period of time "substantially increases the risk of accidents."

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  • Oct 03
    Coca-Cola Pays $21 Million in Distracted Driving Lawsuit

    A jury in Corpus Christi, Texas awarded $21 million in damages to a woman who was struck by a Coca-Cola driver who had been talking on her cell phone at the time of the accident. The plaintiff’s attorneys were able to successfully argue that Coca-Cola's cell phone policy for its drivers was "vague and ambiguous."  They also suggested that Coca-Cola was aware of the dangers but “withheld this information from its employee driver,” which led directly to the circumstances that caused the accident

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  • Oct 03
    How Texting and Driving Can Destroy Your Business

    Let's say that you get through an accident relatively unscathed.  Maybe you just end up with some minor injuries and the other people involved are still alive (although their cars are damaged and they possibly have a broken bone or two).  Are you really out of the woods?  What's the potential for you professionally?  What can happen to the business that you worked tirelessly to buiold, the job you've been working 70 hours a week for, and your reputation?  Unfortunately, in our litigious society you're far from being out of the woods.  Instead, you can find yourself neck deep in the woods.  And the woods I'm referring to aren't filled with furry little bunnies and cute woodland creatures.  Instead, the legal woods are filled with rabid lawyers, judges who don't like young punks with iPhones, nad people looking to take advantage of our legal system. 

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