One in four construction business owners (24%) reported having an employee involved in an accident while driving for work due to distraction from mobile phone use, according to a new study by Travelers Insurance. In 2023, 20% of owners reported similar accidents.
Although 68% of those businesses surveyed said that they have an official policy about employees using a phone while driving, 66% said that they worry about liability. That concern is up 10 percentage points compared to 2023, according to Travelers.
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The construction data is part of a larger survey that shows overall risk increasing due to several distracting behaviors.
Behaviors that distract drivers
Travelers identified five behaviors that have increased since before the Covid pandemic:
- Updating or checking social media: +13%.
- Typing a text or email: +10%.
- Talking on a cellphone (hands-free): +10%.
- Using a cellphone to record videos/take photos: +9%.
- Reading a text or email: +9%.
“Distraction is one of the leading causes of roadway fatalities, and it continues to have a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities,” said Michael Klein, EVP, in a statement.
Of the executives surveyed across all industries, 85% said that they are concerned about employees’ use of mobile technology while driving, up from 77% in 2023. Seven of 10 executives (68%) said that they have instituted distracted-driving policies.
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How companies are enforcing distracted-driving policies
- Formally communicating about restrictions concerning phone calls, texts, and/or emails while driving for work (84%).
- Requiring employees to sign an acknowledgment of the policy (66%).
- Disciplining employees who do not comply with company policy (77%).
- Prohibiting the use of handheld devices while driving (53%).
“Distracted driving is a preventable crisis,” said Chris Hayes, assistant VP of workers compensation and transportation, risk control, in a statement. “If you’re the passenger in a vehicle, speak up if the driver isn’t paying attention to the road. If you’re an employer, avoid calling employees when you know they’re driving.”
