Download this: Drive Safely Work Week

If you text or call an employee who’s on the road, how long do you expect to wait for a reply?

Do your employees feel pressured to answer you right away?

Are they scrolling through emails while they wait for a light to change?

Do you have a mobile device policy in place addressing any or all of these questions?

Drive Safely Work Week is October 3-7, 2011, but you can take steps to improve safe, distraction free driving, walking and cycling any time of year. In 2011, the focus is on helping drivers as well as passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists prevent accidents.

Download this: A suite of campaign materials from trafficsafety.org. It includes:

  • Five daily activities
  • Tip sheets for drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians
  • Sample manager letters introducing the campaign
  • Leadership pledge
  • Graphic materials, including posters, logos and web banners
  • Materials in Spanish
  • Videos from the U.S. Department of Transportation “Faces of Distracted Driving” initiative (Warning: They are pretty gut-wrenching)

The real strength of this campaign is its inclusive approach: it helps pedestrians and cyclists stay safe, too, while encouraging healthy and eco-friendly transportation solutions, like carpooling and walking/biking to work.

Are you a passenger in a car with a texting driver? Say something! Are you biking to work? Make sure you wear a helmet, ride with traffic and practice defensive cycling (read: sorry, but you should take out those earbuds).

I also like these 5×7 reminder cards. Simple, versatile and to-the-point:

If you, like me, review the material and decide you really should have a mobile device policy, last year’s materials are still available and include tips for developing a policy at your workplace.