Distracted Driving

Resources for Carriers to Stay Safe and Focused on the Road

Model Distracted Driving Policy

ICSA has developed a Model Distracted Driving Policy to assist companies in reducing distracted driving. Download the policy and use it to help your drivers comply with federal and state laws prohibiting the use of hand-held devices in a moving vehicle. By adopting this policy, carriers can promote safer driving practices and reduce the risk of costly accidents. Ensuring your drivers stay focused on the road not only protects lives but also helps maintain a positive safety record for your company.

This page also provides information on the different types of driver distractions, tips to stay focused, educational videos, and details on related fines.

Download Policy

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Upload Your Signed Form

ICSA has provided this sample distracted driving policy for its members to use in their businesses. We suggest printing it out, presenting it to all employees and asking them to sign and observe the policy. If you would like to receive a congratulatory certificate, upload a signed copy to ICSA for our records. Thank you!

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3 Types of Distracted Driving

Visual

Manual

Cognitive

Visual Distractions

Taking your eyes off the road

Did you know that taking your eyes off the road for more than two seconds doubles your risk of a crash? But reading a text causes drivers to take their eyes off the road for 5 seconds on average. While texting is the first thing people may think of with distracted driving, some other examples include:

Checking your GPS or other systems
Looking at the radio or temperature controls
Searching for an item in the vehicle
Billboards

Manual Distractions

Taking your hands off the wheel

Texting is also an type of manual distractions. If a commercial driver sends a text, it increases their risk of crash or near-crash by 23 times according to the USDOT. Some other examples include:

Eating or drinking
Touching the radio or temperature controls
Reaching for something in the car
Fixing your hair or makeup
Taking a photo or video

Cognitive Distractions

Not being mentally focused on driving

While cognitive distractions can be more difficult to realize, 62% of distracted driving on the road is because a driver loses mental focus on the task at hand. Texting is an example, so it fits into all three categories. Some other types of cognitive distractions are:

Talking to a passenger
Road rage
Stress or fatigue
Driving under the influence
Thinking about a conversation you had already had
Daydreaming

Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving:

Put your phone and other handheld devices out of your line of sight so you cannot see them
Eat meals prior to driving or pull off the road to a safe space
Set your GPS prior to driving
Set up an automatic response on your device
Avoid letting visuals outside your truck distract you

Manage Avoidable Fines

The FMCSA considers distracted driving a serious traffic violation and has set penalties accordingly:

- First time violation = federal fine up to $2,750 for the driver
- Up to $11,000 fine for company allowing their driver to drive distracted
- Second violation in less than 3 years = removal of driver from the road for 60 days + fines
- Third violation in less than 3 years = removal of driver from the road for 90 days + fines