As everyone knows, driving is dangerous. But, with increased travel, busy schedules and holiday activities, everyone’s stress level and fatigue increases. And, with more drivers on the highway and the U.S. Postal Service delivering 20.5 million packages per day through the remainder of the year, the opportunity for distractions also increases – even with distracted driving laws across the country.

A sobering thought? One of every 100 drivers you come across is only paying attention to the road half the time.

A new report from Bloomberg news analyzed the data of approximately 30,000 drivers and found distracted driving in New York City and Los Angeles rose during the summer, as well as increased by approximately 30% during the holidays. In fact, on an average weekday, the percentage of texting while driving is 9.1%; that figure shoots up to 13.5% on Thanksgiving and 12.1% on Christmas!

It’s important to remember that every day – every month – at least nine Americans die and 100 are injured in distracted driving crashes. With cell phones, dashboard touchscreens, voice commands and other in-vehicle technologies, it’s easy to get distracted. Add in apps like Facebook, Google Maps, Snapchat and others, and the number of temptations readily increases.

Why should you worry about distracted driving in your fleet? Because distracted drivers are…

• 36% more likely to be involved in a near collision
• 87% more likely to drive 10 mph or more over the speed limit
• 1x more likely to not wear a seatbelt

In addition, distracted drivers …

• Drift out of lane 91% more than all other drivers
• Experience lower MPG – on average, 6.1% lower than for all other drivers

Last, but certainly not least, distracted drivers are 83% more likely to roll through a stop sign/red light.

Every fleet has distracted drivers. But, knowing distracted driving is happening doesn’t stop it, nor does it make your drivers safer. You need to take action. The combination of insightful video, an intuitive online dashboard and proven coaching workflow enables you to intervene in a timely manner with driving skill improvement strategies that make a difference. By seeing video and coaching your drivers on techniques to eliminate bad habits, you immediately see results and improve your fleet’s performance. You’ll drive down incidents, while minimizing overall risks, exposure and costs. Most importantly, you’ll ensure that your drivers come home safely so everyone can celebrate a happy holiday season.