DriverCheck Blog

A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study of commercial drivers found that a safety-critical event is 163 times more likely if a driver is texting, e-mailing, or accessing the Internet. ¹

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in November 2011 a final rule specifically prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles. The rule is the latest action by the U.S. Department of Transportation to end distracted driving. ²

Taking the suggested rule on hand-held cell phones a step further, , the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on December 13, 2011, recommended all 50 states and the District of Columbia pass laws to “ban the nonemergency use of portable electronic devices (other than those designed to support the driving task) for all drivers.” ¹

DriverCheck, Inc., has been on the leading edge of the distracted driving issue through its full-circle 24/7 “How’s My Driving” driver monitor program. Currently available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, DriverCheck provides an instant report of traffic violations and driver behavior, such as cell phone use while driving or other distracted driving for all fleet drivers participating in the program.

“When drivers of large trucks, buses and hazardous materials take their eyes off the road for even a few seconds, the outcome can be deadly,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel.” ²

“According to the National Highway Transportation Administration, more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents”, said Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. “It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving. No call, no text, no update is worth a human life.” ¹

DriverCheck’s driver safety monitoring program is a proactive risk management tool enabling the carrier to quickly identify drivers whose behavior needs to be corrected.  DriverCheck subscribers have access to several driver safety training modules, including Distracted Driving, which are produced in partnership with the National Safety Council and are available online through the website www.drivercheck.net.

If you are not a DriverCheck client, and if you would like further information on how the driver safety monitoring program can help your drivers avoid distracted driving and reduce your collisions and collision-related costs, contact:

In today’s information age, it’s important to communicate safety information as quickly and effectively as possible.  Information from driver observation reports needs to be communicated to your drivers promptly and professionally.DriverCheck, North America’s driver safety monitoring leader, electronically generates and transmits its driver observation reports directly to the driver’s fleet manager or safety supervisor. Upon receipt of each report, as a driver’s supervisor, you should request a private meeting with the driver to discuss the report’s contents.  Ensure that your driver understands the goal of the meeting: a) gaining the driver’s feedback on the report and, b) making sure the driver understands the importance of safety on the road. It’s all about protecting the driver, the company, and the lives of motorists and pedestrians.

During the meeting with the driver, focus on driving actions and behaviors—not on the driver.  Keep in mind that you are not trying to make the driver feel bad.  Your goal is to change unacceptable or unsafe driving actions and behaviors.

DriverCheck has produced Collision Countermeasures in partnership with the National Safety Council.  DriverCheck’s clients may use these Collision Countermeasures to communicate the steps necessary to avoid future negative driver observation reports and to increase the level of safety in the company.

After discussing the incident with the driver in a non-judgmental, non-threatening way, schedule a follow-up meeting with the driver in a week or so to show your commitment to the driver’s success and safety. Thank your driver for his or her commitment to safety, and emphasize the partnership that exists among the driver, the company, and the company’s clients, many of whom see your company’s vehicles on the roads each and every day. Remind your drivers that the vehicles they drive are mobile billboards that promote the company. Remind them that this promotion—available for all to see—must be positive and not negative in nature.

If you are a DriverCheck client, download your copy of the Collision Countermeasures directly from our website. As a bonus, you will receive a copy of a sample counseling session produced by the National Safety Council specifically for DriverCheck’s clients. If you are not a DriverCheck client, and if you would like further information on how our service can reduce your collisions and collision-related costs, contact:

In the past 30 years, more people in the United States have died in transportation accidents than in all the wars fought in American history—and human error is a leading factor in the majority of those crashes.*

A recent study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) noted that, “It is clear that efforts aimed at further reducing preventable crashes must focus in large part on driver behaviors.”

The ATRI’s study of 587,772 truck drivers shows that monitoring and recognizing unsafe driving actions and behaviors, such as failure to use turn signals and improper passing, can be used to counsel drivers, alter behaviors, and reduce the likelihood of unsafe incidents and crashes.  The main objective of the ATRI study was to identify the leading driver behaviors that caused accidents. The table below shows their findings related to prior convictions a driver has had and the increased risk of that driver being involved in a crash.

(Courtesy American Transportation Research Institute)

It is interesting to note that the study also found that allowing problem behaviors to continue, even low-priority behaviors such as parking violations and littering, increases the opportunities for crash involvement. “By becoming aware of problem behaviors, carriers and enforcement agencies are able to address those issues prior to them leading to serious consequences.”

DriverCheck agrees. While initial driver training is important, it is driver actions and behaviors that most put companies at risk of collisions, with their inevitable drag on profitability. Using vehicle-monitoring companies such as DriverCheck can help identify and counsel at-risk drivers before they have costly collisions.

At the turn of the 20^th century, there were only a few cars in the United States. By 2006, the number of registered vehicles had increased to approximately 250 million.

With all these vehicles in the same space, it’s inevitable that several will be trying to occupy the same space at the same time. When that happens, there are laws, rules, and signs to tell us which vehicle has priority, or, in other words, which vehicle has the right of way. The problem is, there are not always signs at every intersection, or sometimes traffic lights may not be working.

In these cases, there are laws and rules concerning right of way, and they have their basis in two guiding principles: What is the most logical thing to do under the circumstances? What is safest thing to do under the circumstances?

In its new driver training module, DriverCheck explores some common right-of-way issues that drivers face and discuss the rules that apply to them. The module contains right-of-way rules, examples, and an on-line quiz that allows drivers to test their understanding of the topic. This and other training modules are available without charge to all DriverCheck clients.

Many people believe that hard braking is almost always the result of an emergency. The fact is that only a small percentage of hard braking is due to an emergency. The majority of hard braking is the result of unsafe driver actions or behaviors. DriverCheck’s new driver training module on hard braking focuses on these actions and behaviors and on how to change them.

The module includes causes and effects of hard braking, as well as tips for drivers on how they can ensure that they are maintaining safe following distances in a variety of weather conditions. Programmed in Flash for easy access on any computer, the new module went live on Friday, April 29, 2011, with a Spanish Version to appear soon. As always, training modules are provided without additional charge and are directly related to the safety issues most encountered by drivers and their fleet managers.

Safety Mangers: Feel free to customize this information and use it during driver orientation.

1. Stop, turn off the ignition, and warn others

Even if the collision is a minor one, and even if you are not at fault, stop. Failing to stop can expose the driver and company to a hit-and-run charge. Turn off the ignition to reduce the risk of a fire in case a gasoline line was ruptured during impact.

Then, turn on your hazard lights or activate flashers, flares, or reflecting devices around your vehicle. Each year, drivers and passengers involved in a collision are killed or injured—not by the collision itself, but by being hit after the collision by other drivers passing the scene.

2. Obtain medical help as needed

You should administer first aid only to the extent that you are trained and qualified to do so. If an injury requires professional medical treatment, call 911 and request an ambulance. Don’t move an injured or unconscious person unless they are in danger from passing traffic, from fire, or from other hazards.

3. Call the police when necessary

Not every collision requires that the police be called. Your safety manager or supervisor will explain when calling the police is a requirement. If in doubt, call the police.

When the police arrive, answer all questions openly and honestly and to the best of your knowledge. Do not speculate about what might have happened. Speak only about what you know, and stick to the facts. It is usually advisable not to admit fault or apologize to anyone, including the police. An investigation of the incident may uncover facts that were unknown to you at the time. An on-the-spot acknowledgement that you were at fault could prejudice your situation, even if exculpatory information becomes available later.

If there is an injury, don’t leave the scene until the police have given you permission to do so.

4. Exchange driver information

Though requirements may differ from locale to locale, all drivers involved in a collision should exchange the following information: names, addresses, dates of birth, registration numbers of the vehicles, proof of ownership, names and addresses of the automobile insurance companies, and proof of insurance.

If this information is not available at the scene of the collision, the driver without the information is usually obligated to provide it within a certain time period. Failure to do so could be a legal violation and could prejudice your case during a subsequent investigation.

5. Notify your company and your insurance company

You should do so even if the collision is not serious. What may not seem serious at the time could become serious at a later date. Also, notify your insurance company even if you believe the collision was not your fault. Assessing fault is the responsibility of the police and, when necessary, the court system.

Don’t wait until you have all the facts before your report the collision. Give the insurance company all the information you have, and fill in the gaps later.