Smartphones: Powerful tools or dangerous distractions?!
We've all watched the commercials and seen the news, distracted driving is a serious problem today in the U.S. There are almost as many smartphone users as there are people, and that doesn't even include tablets. It's no wonder we are finding ourselves at the crossroads of value and danger. When does availability of power and convenience come with too much risk?
At CLS we spend a lot of time working with fleets on technology selection, and a big trend is the support of mobile devices as a substitute to purpose-built or mounted devices. The reality is, it's preference. Both come with advantages and disadvantages. The important thing is to ensure that you are protecting your employees and company by ensuring compliance with Distracted Driving laws.
I'll be the first to admit that I spend more time with my smartphones, (YEP I said it, multiple phones!) than I do with friends or family. Fact is, so do your drivers and office staff. The business opportunities are endless today and we need to think of it as a catalyst not a deterrent. So start researching your needs and figure out the best platform to support them. Just make sure you are keeping your company and employees safe through solid safety policies, and setting appropriate usage expectations.
CLS works with some very smart fleets and the technology is out there to prevent device use while driving. It's not free, but it is very worth it! Again, do your research.
The more pragmatic solutions we see in vehicles with fixed displays are still very attractive and offer more control to the fleet when it comes to managing usage, but it won't avoid the newest iPhone or Samsung device from being in your driver's pocket when he gets behind the wheel.
So, how are you managing devices in your fleet today?
