An interesting article in the current issue of Risk and Insurance Magazine highlights how more than 500 corporations are leading the fight to prevent distracted driving.

Now, if you’re like most people, you might be skeptical that corporate America is really fighting against cell phone use while driving.  Afterall, why in the world would they want to give up that additional productivity?

In my opinion, there are 3 simple reasons:

1. Safety:  Leaders of private and public organizations are coming to grips with the fact that cell phone use while driving represents the single most significant distraction that leads to crashes.
2. Brand:  Companies have never been more conscious of their brands.  Like everyone else, they intuitively know that cell phone use while driving is wrong and they want to be seen as “doing what’s right” in the eyes of the public.
3. Money:  Nothing motivates like money!  Modern executives and plaintiffs attorneys both understand that distracted driving is risky business.  Therefore companies seek innovative solutions to enforce cell phone policies so they can protect themselves from expensive and embarrassing law suits, and increased insurance premiums.

So what about you?  Is your company concerned about employee use of mobile phones while driving?  If so, what are you going to do about it?