Call blocking

By Colin Windell

Any crash, whether a ‘minor’ bumper bashing or major collision induces some level of shock for the participants – yet they are expected to instantly remember (and note) the long list of details required by insurance companies if any claim is to be settled.

Besides the repairs which seem to take forever, the paperwork involved in a claim as a third party can be overwhelming and intensely frustrating.

One of the most common causes of crashes these days come from drivers using hand-held devices and US research shows they are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.

When employees use hand-held cell phones while driving, whether to text message, read and respond to e-mails, or even make phone calls, they are posing a serious danger to themselves, other motorists, and the company’s bottom line.

While a growing number of fleets have enacted strict policies governing cell phone use while driving, the challenge is the challenge as to how to enforce these policies — especially when managing fleets consisting of dozens or hundreds of drivers?

There are a number of mobile applications that automatically disable certain functionality within wireless devices while a vehicle is in operation, equipping fleets of all sizes with a practical tool to enforce policies that reduce distracted driving accidents and minimise risk exposure.

Generally, they all operate on a similar basis by blocking certain functionality on the cell phone such as text messaging (send or receive) and / or the making of calls while the vehicle is in motion. All notifications and alerts are suppressed – including incoming calls, texts and emails.