Introduction
The use of cell phones while driving escalates the risk of harming other motorists and pedestrians due to distracted driving. For instance, sending a text message when driving increases the car crash risk by 23 times (Carroll et al. 289). A study indicated that the accident severity increased to 6.46% when there was an additional text per hour (Atwood 153). The two main issues with drivers typing on phone are that they take their eyes off the road and lose concentration when they get absorbed with the conversation. It is the duty of every citizen and company that upholds corporate social responsibility to implement laws that will mitigate mobile device usage while driving. In this paper, I will propose policies that will guide the use of phones in our company.
Installing Tracking Device in Company’s Vehicle
The first policy that our company will have is the installation of tracking devices in all our company vehicles. Our rationale is that when people know that they are being watched, they are likely to deter from committing offenses. Walshe et al. identify that national policies which prohibit using mobile phones fail to indicate a reduction in motor accidents (35). The reason is that, despite such policies being in place, people never adhere to them. Therefore, our enterprise will not just implement the policies that deter texting while driving but also install cameras and trackers to ensure that no worker breaks the law.
Automation of Driving and Communication
The other policy for our company will be striving for digitalization of transport and communication. Implementation of this law will be through the purchase of technologies that allow automation, such as voice recognition, to receive or cancel a call can minimize accidents. Under this clause, the policies will ensure vehicles’ automation to reduce the risk of a driver’s distraction and human error. Our company will install automated communication devices so that the employees do not have to touch the phone while on the road. Alternatively, an automated voice can remind drivers to stop and park the car to respond when the cell phone rings. The policy will include digitalization to alert the driver if there is another driver or a pedestrian along the way. Such an “automated vehicle-centric collision avoidance system” has been used successfully to reduce human error in aircraft (Van Tooren 1). The automated service can also sort between calls that are important and inform the driver accordingly.
Restriction of Cellphone in Job-site
We will also have a policy that minimizes the use of cell phones within the premises of the company. This order will prevent unethical use of the phone by employees. For instance, the company will punish those who use smartphones while walking because it can cause death when a person concentrates on the phone and fails to see a vehicle coming (Carroll et al. 289). The law will also prevent workers from stealing the company’s time by focusing on their devices instead of fulfilling their duties. Our company will have a rule that states employees should not bring their devices in the workplace. Standard communication procedures, such as the use of emails will be used instead of text messages. Also, our enterprise policy will require the personal electronics of laborers to be safely locked for use during break time only.
Conclusion
Our company will have three basic policy clauses to prevent unethical practices of employees misusing cell phones. The focus of these laws will be to mitigate using of mobile devices while driving to minimize the rising car crash cases. The other set of policies is investing in trackers and automation of driving and communication to lower the chances of drivers multitasking with their devices. Within the job site, we will have policies to restrict mobile phones use during working hours or when walking.
Works Cited
Atwood, Jon, et al. “The driver-level crash risk associated with daily cellphone use and cellphone use while driving.” Accident Analysis & Prevention, vol. 119, 2018, pp. 149-154.
Carroll, Archie, and Ann, Buchholtz Business & Society: Ethics, Sustainability & Stakeholder Management 10th ed. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2015.
Van Tooren Joost, et al. “Collision and Conflict Avoidance System for Autonomous Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs).” U.S. Patent No. 7,737,878.
Walshe, Elizabeth, et al. “202 Cell phone use and a pattern of risk behaviors associated with crashes in young adult drivers: implications for policy.” Oral Presentations, 2020.