Risk & Business Magazine Miller Insurance Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 26

FLEET SAFETY
Fleet Safety:
Driving in a Digital World
A
ccording to the National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, distracted
driving is any activity that
diverts attention from
driving. This includes any activity which
reduces the focus required to operate a
vehicle. Today, the most common form of
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distraction is the use of mobile devices.
As an employer, you should know that
any employee driving a company-owned
vehicle or his or her own personal
vehicle for business reasons could be
held liable if the employee is involved
in an accident while using a mobile
device. Most states have not defined
the employer’s responsibility related to
accidents involving mobile cell phone
use. This has led to increased litigation
against companies who more often than
not have deeper pockets than the employee
who may have caused a distracted driving
accident.