In many ways, recent improvements in technology have improved the lives of professional Drivers, making it easier to connect with loved ones at home or share a video of life on the road.

But these advances in technology have also come with drawbacks and, in this case, the drawbacks have potentially life-threatening consequences. With such easy access to so much technology, distracted driving now leads to thousands of fatalities throughout North America each year. The issue has become so prevalent that the National Safety Council (NSC) observes April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

In an attempt to draw attention to what they deem an “epidemic,” the NSC will release a combination of statistics and other collateral demonstrating the incredible danger of distracted driving throughout the month. Here are a few of the numbers:

• Drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash
• Texting and driving is 6 times more likely to get you in an accident than drunk driving
• At 55 MPH, taking five seconds to look at your phone means you’ve travelled the length of a football field without looking at the road
• 1 out of 4 car accidents in the US is caused by texting while driving

And despite what some may say about their ability to multitask with ease, Rick Geller, a Transportation Industry Leader at Marsh Risk Consulting, proves just how much of a distraction that can be:

For those who believe that they are great multi-taskers and can manage to drive and have a phone discussion at the same time, I would invite you to try this simple test:

1.Say the letters of the alphabet from A to I as quickly as you can.

2.Say the numbers from 1 to 9 as quickly as you can.

3.Now try saying A1, B2, … I9 as quickly as you can.

Notice how much it slowed you down?

Regardless of how severe the impact is, the reality is that distracted driving increases the likelihood of collisions on the road, putting professional Drivers and the general motoring public at great risk of serious injury or death.

At Bison, we work with our people to ensure there is a clear understanding of the potential harm that can be caused by distracted driving and enforce a strict Hands-Free Policy that forbids the use of any communication device while operating a motor vehicle.  This policy covers not only our professional Drivers but anyone who may be operating a motor vehicle, commercial or otherwise.

As the Safest Fleet in North America, we’re committed to helping raise awareness of the issue of distracted driving across our fleet and beyond, with the goal of improving road safety throughout the continent.

Please click here to learn more about the NSC’s Distracted Driver Awareness Month initiative and access additional resources.