Shared Responsibility

You see them every day: distracted drivers and distracted walkers. When the two collide, the walker is always going to lose. Simple physics: an average vehicle weighs more than 4,000 pounds. Both parties have a shared responsibility to look out for one another.

Some of your employees drive to work. Some drive FOR work – as a regular part of their job. All of your employees spend a part of their day walking, even if it’s merely walking across the parking lot to enter the office.

So, what can you do to help them put their best foot forward? Here’s an idea: Set aside 5 minutes to share this video produced by the Saskatchewan Safety Council during your next team meeting. The video highlights distinct differences observed between a walker with her head up and the same walker with her head down texting.

Then, consider setting up a walking course in your own parking lot to engage employees in a test that is sure to open their eyes to safety concerns. What changed when they buried their heads in their phones? You might even want to create your own video and share it with your entire organization at a social function. Have fun with safety!

Why is pedestrian safety an employer issue? Did you know?

• One in every five crashes occurs in a parking lot or parking garage
• Two-thirds of drivers admit to pulling into or out of parking spaces while distracted

In 2020, there were 259 crashes involving pedestrians in Nebraska, resulting 15 deaths, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. That’s a 15%  decrease in fatalities in a single year but in 2019, pedestrian crashes were around 342 resulting in 20 fatalities. Research shows distraction is a contributing factor in many of these crashes. Employers bear the brunt of costs associated with crashes, whether they occur on or off the job, whether they involve employees or their family members.

Drivers are distracted and walkers are distracted. Both know better. Help them do better.