A while ago, I encouraged companies to take up the fight against distracted driving by educating their employees about the dangers of texting or talking on a cell phone behind the wheel. Since then, employers across America have stepped up to the challenge and made distracted driving awareness a priority in the workplace.
Yesterday, I joined several hundred Volkswagen and Audi employees at their American headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. Together, we celebrated the launch of a new employee education initiative, “Enjoy the Ride. Don’t text and drive”
To demonstrate their support for this initiative, 4,000 Volkswagen and Audi employees took personal responsibility for safe driving by signing a banner pledging to never text behind the wheel. These 4,000 men and women understand that distracted driving poses a very serious safety problem on America's roads. They have sent a powerful message by becoming part of the solution.
Many of them have gone even further by reminding their families and friends that no text or email is so important that it can’t wait until they reach their destination.
Are you looking for a way to make your workplace part of the solution? Soon, thanks to our friends at the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, you can download tools and information to start a program similar to the one at Volkswagen/Audi. NETS' annual Drive Safely Work Week is approaching on October 4-8, so look for our announcement in August to download your materials and help your company take a turn in the right direction.
I congratulate all of the Volkswagen and Audi employees who stepped up to sign the banner I saw yesterday. You have pledged to keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your focus on the road; and that makes a difference.
We need to start reporting cell phone usage along with seat belt usage, and alcohol involvement when reporting automobile fatalaties. It seems some times there are more people in traffic that are on the phone than not. In my daily commute from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Grand Rapids, Michigan I frequently encounter weaving cars and "slower than traffic" vehicles in the passing lane whose drivers are on the phone. What is even scarier, is when you are approached at a high rate of speed by one of these one handed drivers who are putting themselves and others at risk. Semi-truck drivers are no exception. Keep up the good work !
Posted by: Robert Piellusch | August 01, 2011 at 04:35 PM