Drive Safety Work Week aims to reduce number of Chicago car accidents, work accidents, caused by distracted driving

Drive Safely Work Week is Oct. 4-8 as the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety work to reduce the number of Chicago car accidents and accidents elsewhere in the nation that are blamed on distracted driving or other poor driving habits.

“The statistics of distracted driving are staggering,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, noting that almost 6,000 people are killed and more than 500,000 are injured each year in accidents caused by distracted drivers. “If we are to succeed, each company must do its part to develop strong policies and educate its employees.”The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that distracted drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash; drivers who are text messaging are 20 times more likely to be in a crash. Traffic accidents are also a leading cause of Chicago work accidents.

This year’s campaign urges businesses and corporations to institute cell phone policies and to ban the use of cell phones while driving. The week-long campaign urges organizations to make time to discuss safe driving with employees and to encourage employees to use call-blocking technology and mass transit as ways to reduce the dangers of distracted driving.

The safety initiative is increasing the focus on truckers and the trucking industry. As we reported on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, the enactment of a federal ban on text messaging by all truck, train and bus operators is now in effect nationwide. Unlike the patchwork of laws aimed at prohibiting text messaging in passenger cars, the nationwide ban covers truck drivers and federal employees in all 50 states.

“I am thrilled that businesses across the country are making anti-distracted driving policies an integral part of their employee culture,” said Secretary LaHood. “Employers across America are doing the same to help us set an example and keep our roads safe.”

Drive Safety Campaign material for the workplace may be downloaded here.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Abels & Annes for a freecase evaluation . Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless we recover for you.