Follow Best Practices in Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and NAHB encourages members to emphasize the importance of safe driving practices to, from, and around the jobsite.
Each year, distracted driving contributes to thousands of injuries and fatalities. Promoting awareness is essential to ensuring that workers understand the serious risks associated with distracted driving and the operation of machinery in the workplace.
In partnership with the National Safety Council, NAHB is sharing free resources and information available to both members and the public.
Here are some guidelines that can be used for your workers who operate vehicles and machinery:
- Always make sure to inspect your vehicle or machine to make sure it’s in good working condition.
- Make sure your mirrors are correctly aligned to view surrounding traffic adequately.
- Ensure your seatbelt is securely fastened before driving or operating machinery.
- Always pull over and have the car in park when answering any conversations on the phone.
- Obey all traffic signs including speed limits and drive slower in bad weather.
- Make sure to get enough rest every day to avoid drowsiness and get a good night’s sleep before a long car trip.
- DO NOT:
- Talk on the phone and never, ever text while driving
- Eat or drink
- Play with radio or navigation system while driving or operating machinery
- Drive or operate machinery under the influence of alcohol or certain prescription drugs
If you have an urgent text or email that needs to be addressed immediately, simply pull over to a safe location.
Additionally, NAHB has a free Safe Driving Video Toolbox Talk, available in both English and Spanish (see the English version below). This video is a great resource to use during a safety stand down.
Let’s commit to these safety practices and help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving—for ourselves and those around us.
