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Did you know that a driver going just 25 mph can travel the length of four football fields during the time it takes to enter an address into a navigation app? And navigation systems are just one of the many causes of distracted driving. Cell phones, radios, other in-vehicle technologies and eating can take drivers’ eyes and minds off the road for dangerous stretches of time. Even hands-free devices compete for drivers’ attention and can lead to big problems. Social media is another factor, with drivers engaging with sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat and even taking (and posting) videos and photos from behind the wheel. Research shows that as many as seven in 10 people use their smartphone while driving and four in 10 use social media while on the road. Some even shoot video from behind the wheel, with 27% saying they "can do it safely while driving."  As many as one in three U.S. adults admits to using some kind of technology while driving, and the numbers are likely higher. With that many distracted drivers on the road, it's likely that many of them are your employees. Does your company have a distracted driving policy? If not, here are five reasons to consider implementing one.

Companies that hire drivers and specialize in any form of transportation face a certain number of shared challenges, but each one has its individual challenges as well. For the automotive transportation industry, those challenges often come from the sheer size and scope of their vehicles. Ensuring that drivers have the proper training to maneuver their trucks as well as the cargo they’re carrying is essential to the success of such companies. It’s so important to Virginia Transportation Corporation that they rely on Smith System training for every driver. Providing auto transportation services throughout the United States and Canada, Virginia Transport has nearly 500 drivers who work daily to move vehicles from one location to the next. That can mean a single vehicle or an entire fleet, but each one must arrive safely, efficiently and on time.  Deanna dela Cruz, director of safety compliance for the company, says that adding Smith System driver training to their onboarding process has made a significant difference in how the company approaches new hires — and the response has been enthusiastic. “The new drivers really embrace the training,” she says. “We’re able to relate all of The Smith5Keys®, which are relevant to our company as far as common mistakes we see. It makes a difference in how they respond to situations on the road.” After looking into several different driver safety programs, dela Cruz says they chose Smith System because it had the best track record and her company was impressed with what they offer. “The fact that they have been around for so long and have such a strong reputation really helped,” she says. “Plus, the fact that they are so embedded in so many other companies around the world says a lot about them. If you’re going to invest in your fleet, you want to get the best there is.”

Drivers and safety managers in the retail and food service industries face a growing number of challenges in today’s world. While they may approach those challenges from different perspectives, the problems are shared and affect companies both from the driver and the management standpoint. While all commercial fleets are facing significant challenges in a changing environment, some of these behind-the-wheel challenges are unique to retail and food service drivers. Here’s a look at five challenges facing retail and food service drivers as well as the opportunities they present.

With more than 11,500 drivers, National Grid, understands how critical it is to invest in the safety of each and every employee. The gas and electric utility company, which covers Massachusetts, Rhode Island, parts of New Hampshire and all of New York state, relies on Smith System training to make sure that all of its drivers have the best tools to handle whatever occurs when they’re behind the wheel. “We started using Smith System in 2008,” says Samantha Murray, Vehicle Safety Manager at National Grid. “It started in gas operations, but we received such great feedback on it that we made it part of our policy.” In 2014, the company implemented a Safe Motor Vehicle Operations Policy that made driver safety training part of its requirements. “Our drivers liked the training from the very beginning,” Murray says. “It’s now something that everyone in our company participates in, from field employees to executives. It’s been very beneficial.”