ARTICLE
Make a promise this month to leave your phone in your pocket or purse when you drive Think of all the things that make driving a challenge at this time of year – things like ice, blowing snow, and early darkness. Why make driving more complicated than it already is by dividing your attention between the road and your phone? We’re calling on our customers to join us in fighting distracted driving. If you haven’t already done so, make a promise this month to leave your phone in your pocket or purse when you drive. Distracted driving is a killer, but we can all do our part to reduce its risk. We’d certainly agree that cell phones are wonderful tools in many settings. They’re great for checking in with family members or reading social media posts. And if you skid off one of winter’s icy roads, a cell phone can bring help in a hurry. But cell phones and driving don’t mix. According to the U.S. government, almost 3,200 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014. (Cell phones aren’t the only source of distraction while driving, but they’re a major one.) While drivers in their teens and 20s are most likely to be involved in distracted driving accidents, they don’t have a monopoly on the problem. At any given daylight moment, some 660,000 American drivers are using a cell phone or electronic device, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s a frightening number, and it’s time to bring it down. We hope you’ll resolve not to give in to distraction while driving – and that you’ll spread the word to other drivers in your household. You might be wondering why an electricity delivery company cares about distracted driving. For one thing, it’s a lesson that’s important to our employees. The people of PPL Electric Utilities drive roughly 14 million miles over the course of a calendar year, and we expect them to do so in a safe and focused manner. Our safety policies prohibit the use of hand-held electronic communications devices while driving, and require employees to keep the devices put away to avoid distraction. For another, we want our customers and their families to be safe – not just when they’re around electricity, but at all times. We care about the people we serve. And, still another: Distracted driving is such an avoidable and unnecessary problem. Think about it. Is any text message, email or social media update really so important as to be worth risking an accident? Is there really anything someone might have to say that can’t wait until you can get your car to a safe place and put it in Park? We’re pretty sure the answer to those questions is “no.” We hope you’ll agree. And, we hope you’ll act on it, by putting electronic devices away when you’re behind the wheel and urging those you love to do the same. February RAD Column Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Electric Utilities regional affairs director
Make a promise this month to leave your phone in your pocket or purse when you drive Think of all the things that make driving a challenge at this time of year – things like ice, blowing snow, and early darkness.
Why make driving more complicated than it already is by dividing your attention between the road and your phone?
We’re calling on our customers to join us in fighting distracted driving. If you haven’t already done so, make a promise this month to leave your phone in your pocket or purse when you drive. Distracted driving is a killer, but we can all do our part to reduce its risk.
We’d certainly agree that cell phones are wonderful tools in many settings. They’re great for checking in with family members or reading social media posts. And if you skid off one of winter’s icy roads, a cell phone can bring help in a hurry.
But cell phones and driving don’t mix. According to the U.S. government, almost 3,200 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014. (Cell phones aren’t the only source of distraction while driving, but they’re a major one.)
While drivers in their teens and 20s are most likely to be involved in distracted driving accidents, they don’t have a monopoly on the problem. At any given daylight moment, some 660,000 American drivers are using a cell phone or electronic device, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That’s a frightening number, and it’s time to bring it down. We hope you’ll resolve not to give in to distraction while driving – and that you’ll spread the word to other drivers in your household.
You might be wondering why an electricity delivery company cares about distracted driving.
For one thing, it’s a lesson that’s important to our employees. The people of PPL Electric Utilities drive roughly 14 million miles over the course of a calendar year, and we expect them to do so in a safe and focused manner. Our safety policies prohibit the use of hand-held electronic communications devices while driving, and require employees to keep the devices put away to avoid distraction.
For another, we want our customers and their families to be safe – not just when they’re around electricity, but at all times. We care about the people we serve.
And, still another: Distracted driving is such an avoidable and unnecessary problem. Think about it. Is any text message, email or social media update really so important as to be worth risking an accident? Is there really anything someone might have to say that can’t wait until you can get your car to a safe place and put it in Park?
We’re pretty sure the answer to those questions is “no.” We hope you’ll agree. And, we hope you’ll act on it, by putting electronic devices away when you’re behind the wheel and urging those you love to do the same.
February RAD Column Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Electric Utilities regional affairs director