Florida Water Resources Journal - February 2022

Page 59

information 24 hours a day and those desires do not stop just because people get behind the wheel. Drivers don’t always realize the dangers of taking their eyes and minds off the road, their hands off the wheel, and focusing on activities other than driving.

cell phone policy. There have been numerous documented lawsuits with multimillion-dollar settlements awarded by juries to the victims involving distracted drivers.

Company Policy

Distracted driving is a complicated issue and must be approached through multiple channels. Enacting laws banning the use of cell phones and increasing the penalties for violators will deter some, but not all drivers. Continued driver education and awareness are vital tools in changing drivers’ behaviors. Distracted driving is a learned behavior. There have been surveys where young drivers cite instances of observing their parents using their cell phones while driving. Education is the key to breaking the chain of distracted driving for future generations of drivers, which will ultimately make American roadways safer. Consider the following to minimize distractions while driving: S Adjust mirrors, temperature controls, and entertainment consoles when you first get into the vehicle.

Every company should have a policy that prohibits the use of cell phones while driving, but just having a policy is not enough; it must be communicated to the affected employees, compliance must be monitored, and violations enforced. The National Safety Council has a free cell phone kit available to help develop a policy. There’s information to assist with understanding the issue, obtaining buy-in from leadership, and educating employees. There’s also a sample cell phone policy to use as a blueprint for your organization. There are severe consequences if one of your employees is involved in a severe or even fatal accident while on company business and was found to be distracted because of using a cell phone at the time of the accident, especially if your organization does not have an established

Prevention Strategies

S I nput your destination into your GPS before embarking on your trip. S S tow cell phones in the trunk or glove compartment. S T urn off cell phones and have a programmed message informing the caller that you are driving and you will call them after you arrive at your destination. S I f you must use your cell phone, pull off the road to a safe area before making or answering a call. S N ever take a photo with your cell phone unless your vehicle is stopped. S I f you stop for food, eat it while your vehicle is parked. S D o not perform personal grooming while driving. S P urchase and install GPS mounts that allow you to keep your head up. For more information go to the official website for distracted driving at www.distraction. gov, or the National Safety Council website on the topic at http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSCInitiatives/Pages/distracted-driving.aspx. S

2021 FSAWWA AWARDS Outstanding and Most Improved Water Treatment Plant Awards Class A, Class B, Class C Deadline: Friday, March 18, 2022

Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Operator Award Deadline: Friday, March 18, 2022

AWWA Operator’s Meritorious Service Award Deadline: Friday, March 18, 2022

For more information please go to our website www.fsawwa.org/WTPawards or contact Paul Kavanagh at (813) 264-3835 or kavanaghp@hillsboroughcounty.org

Florida Water Resources Journal • February 2022

59


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The Water Tower Welcomes Wade Trim to Innovation Campus as First Sustaining Partner

2min
page 74

Display Advertiser Index

6min
pages 78-80

Classifieds

5min
pages 75-76

AWWA/WEF Young Professionals Summit

1min
page 77

UF TREEO Center Celebrates its Instructors

5min
pages 72-73

From AWWA: A Call to Arms (and Volunteers Source Water Protection in the Farm Bill

2min
page 70

Challenges and Solutions to Developing Alternative Water Supplies in Central Florida: Polk Regional Water Cooperative

16min
pages 64-68

News Beat

4min
page 69

Test Yourself—Donna Kaluzniak

2min
page 60

FSAWWA Awards

2min
page 59

Let’s Talk Safety: Message to Self: Distracted

3min
page 58

FSAWWA Speaking Out—Emilie Moore

4min
pages 56-57

FSAWWA African-American History Month

1min
page 55

State of Infrastructure Security: Protecting

10min
pages 52-54

CEU Challenge

2min
page 51

Reader Profile—Dakota Millican

2min
page 50

C Factor—Patrick “Murf” Murphy

7min
pages 48-49

FSAWWA Drop Savers Contest

1min
page 47

Incoming Chair’s Reception and Barbecue

3min
pages 44-45

Section Awards

11min
pages 36-42

Conference Sponsors

1min
page 35

Patrick Murphy Elected as FWPCOA President for 2022

5min
pages 4-5

AWWA Water Professionals Thank You

0
page 43

Addressing a 10-µg/L Lead Trigger Level for a Blended Water Supply by Evaluating Alternative Corrosion Control Inhibitors—Paula

28min
pages 16-25

General Information, Contest Winners, Events

13min
pages 28-34

FWEA Focus—Ronald R. Cavalieri

3min
page 14

New Research Shows Most Americans Unaware of Their Daily Water Consumption

5min
pages 6-9
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