The Travelers Risk Index recently announced the results of a survey conducted on distracted driving during the COVID crisis. The data shows that drivers feel the roads are safer due to less traffic and are using their mobile devices more frequently while driving. For example, texting or emailing went up to 26% from 19% pre-COVID and shopping online from mobile devices while driving went up to 17% from 8% pre-COVID. Motor vehicle deaths were up 8% in 2020 according to the National Safety Council which may have stemmed from motorists feeling the roads were safer due to less traffic and choosing to engage in unsafe practices such as speeding and using their mobile devices while driving. It’s important to note that studies have been done showing that distracted driving is just as dangerous as driving under the influence which is where awareness and training come into play.
Many of today’s drivers can benefit from driver training that includes distracted driving. That’s where Virtual Driver Interactive comes in. Our One Simple Decision program was designed to modify driving behavior by illustrating the consequences of choices made behind the wheel. A survey conducted on One Simple Decision with the question, “How likely are you to drive impaired in the future?” found that 84% selected ‘never’ as their response after having gone through the simulation program. One Simple Decision isn’t just for teens but also adults and can be a powerful tool in your training toolkit for the drivers in your organization.
by Heather Anderson, Virtual Driver Interactive