All firms should want to establish cell-phone safety policies to help protect their employees from falling victim to their own bad, distracted-driving habits. Such policies, when rigorously enforced, can also stave off the grave financial consequences of failing to pursue preventives, “…because so many triers of fact – judges and juries – seem eager to consider the mistakes of employees the responsibility of the employers whenever a cell phone is involved.” The publication cites an array of case histories, some of which occurred because employers assumed hands-free devices are safe: “Hands-free devices are not safe alternatives. More than 30 international research studies show that hands-free cell-phone use gives drivers no safety benefit whatsoever.” The majority of the publication discusses policies and techniques for implementing them, and provides samples for firms to use as a basis for developing policies of their own. It also delves into methods of delivering the new policies and then supplementing them through presentations. It also provides talking points for dealing with those who resist stringent new policies, as well as “work-arounds” for those who find long-term cell-phone-use addictions tough to break.

Bluetooth, cell-phone safety, client relations, vehicles, distracted driving, e-mailing, employee relations, insurance, National Safety Council, policy, professional development, safety, texting, trier of fact, vehicle-use policy, YouTube