Below are 12 safety issues that the Center for Transportation Safety, a PHH Arval company, believes will be top of mind in 2012. It was recently featured in Fleet Management Weekly.

1. Cell Phone Use: This year, it is expected that cell phone use will surpass drinking and driving as the leading cause of road crashes and fatalities. 
2. Distractions: As much as we believe we are always in control, research shows that multi-tasking while driving a vehicle is dangerous – for anyone. 
3. Drinking and Driving: Never drink and drive, regardless of how skilled you think you are. You cannot operate a vehicle while impaired. Additionally, you could find yourself facing a felony charge and possible jail sentence if convicted of drinking and driving. 
4. Fatigue: As society continues to do more in less time, fatigued driving is a growing issue. Fatigue and impairment are very similar in their effects on a person – for example, 24 hours without sleep is equivalent to a blood alcohol content of .08, which in all states makes it illegal to drive. 
5. 360 Degree Awareness: The space we share with others on the road is the safety zone in which we travel. Being aware and properly adjusting your mirrors allows you to see even small spots that are critical to determine the distance to others. 
6. Speeding: The leading cause of fatal crashes is excessive speed for various road conditions – such as inclement weather or construction. 
7. Seatbelts: "Buckle up" may be the law, but current statistics show that 51 percent of all fatal victims from vehicle crashes were unrestrained.
8. Intersections: Care must be taken at intersections, where 60 percent of all crashes occur. 
9. Space Management: Understanding the amount of distance your vehicle needs to stop is critical at all times. 
10. Load Securement: Regardless of whether you are operating your private vehicle or a commercial vehicle, it is very important to keep cargo, luggage, bikes, racks and other items properly secured. A loose item creates dangers for you and others on the road. 
11. Internal Cargo: The third highest cause of vehicle incidents is the driver reaching for something or someone that may have moved. For example, a misplaced cup or CD, or reaching for a child can result in harm to you and others. 
12. Seasonal Driving Awareness: Inclement weather affects all areas of the country. Wind, rain, ice and snow impact your reaction time and the vehicle’s ability to respond. Understanding how to navigate these variances can keep you safe.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said that despite a rush by states to ban the use of cell phones while driving, there is a growing concern regarding the number of crashes. In fact, statistics have shown that of the approximately 35,000 roadway fatalities annually, at least 10 percent – possibly as much as 28 percent – of those are caused specifically by cell phone distraction.

However, by reducing driver distractions (such as cell phone use while driving), we could eliminate – or at least reduce – these types of accidents.

While there are currently no national bans for all drivers, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will prohibit commercial drivers from using a hand-held cell phone while operating a commercial truck or bus. The ruling will not impact hands-free devices. (See final rule for more information.)

Moving forward, however, all drivers may face a similar ban. The NTSB recently called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving. (See recent article for additional information.)

This concern over distracted driving is why, during a recent webinar, we wanted to take the opportunity to help you address driver safety. I moderated the event while guest presenters Bruce Davisson from the Center for Transportation Safety (CTS), and Matt Howard from software provider ZoomSafer highlighted that the use of cell phones and mobile devices has quickly become a major safety issue – one that has lead to the ban of hand-held cell phones for fleet operators.

To offer a solution for fleets, we partnered with the tech experts at ZoomSafer to address distracting driving and reduce liability exposure. We created PHH iNmotion, which utilizes active controls to enforce safe and legal cell phone use while driving.

iNmotion, once installed on a driver’s Blackberry or Android smartphone, will detect when an employee is driving and automatically restrict the use of a cell phone and send automated responses via text message or email.

Leveraging technology, however, is just one side of the coin. Training is the other, CTS can help you maximize compliance with company policies and reduce potential liabilities. But it’s not just training behind the wheel. Today’s training courses are in classrooms, online or in simulators. By training your drivers using multiple methods, you will see improved safety results.

Finally, if you haven’t implemented a cell phone policy, you need to consider one. To do that:

• Know your risk. Understand how many crashes the company has had in the past, the number of insurance claims and your premium history.
• Find your organizational balance of revenue and risk management.
• Review relevant regulations – such as those from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, FMCSA and your state and local regulations.
• Don’t make a policy in a vacuum. You need to talk to the people who will be using/following the policy.
• Communicate from top down. Executive sponsorship is required for a cell phone policy to be successful.
• Reward and recognize. Once a policy is in place, ensure that safe drivers are rewarded for their behavior.
• Enforce it. If you don’t plan on enforcing it, then don’t do create a policy at all.

For more information on distracted driving, see ZoomSafer’s blog, the U.S. Department of Transportation's website, or the CTS website.

For about six weeks starting in February, we had a 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (PHV) at PHH’s Sparks, MD campus. Our Strategic Alliances team was able to test drive and learn about this remarkable new concept vehicle, of which only 200 currently exist in the U.S. We learned the PHV can travel up to 15 miles on purely electric power before its gas motor kicks in, and it features a compact, lightweight lithium-ion battery that’s vastly improved from the batteries of the first hybrid cars to hit the market. We plugged the Prius in at our on-site charging station in Sparks, but it can be fully recharged from a standard 110V household outlet in just a couple of hours.

Continuing in our alternative fuel pursuits, we’ve purchased a Chevrolet Volt to add to our inventory (more on that next month!) and are expecting a hybrid demo from BMW and an all-electric Nissan Leaf demo in the future. These vehicles will be used at client regional events whenever possible. In the meantime, we can assist our clients in acquiring any type of alternative-fuel vehicle – be it electric, CNG, propane, or something else. PHH knows that alternative fuel vehicles are a crucial part of the industry’s future, and we want to help our clients choose the best vehicles for their fleet needs and for the planet.

This is an exciting time for environmentalists and auto enthusiasts alike! Come see us at NAFA Booth #1115 in the NAFA Green Zone to get more information about our green initiatives and meet our industry partners.

The American Society for Quality has a strong reputation for being the premier service quality organization, and as such, PHH requires that all our Six Sigma Black Belts successfully pass ASQ’s black belt certification exam. This third party certification provides an additional level of credibility to PHH’s Six Sigma program, Rally to Results. PHH’s black belts are actively involved with ASQ and look to that organization for continued skill development and networking opportunities. I have the pleasure of serving on the board of the Baltimore section of ASQ, and several PHH team members manage an affiliated Lean Six Sigma Special Interest Group. 

Through the leadership of our ASQ-certified black belts, PHH had implemented some significant improvements in the way we deliver customer service. In fact, we’ve implemented 148 certified improvements since the Rally to Results program began in 2003. Recently, we’ve used our methodology in the construction of our Dashboards – designed to give a real-time overview of our work transactions in progress. Using this tool, we optimally manage how that work gets done, in the way our clients require it and in a timely manner.

Our continued association with ASQ allows us to stay on the forefront quality acumen, keeping our black belts sharp and PHH focused on improvements that are meaningful to our clients.