We shouldn't have to tell you that it's dangerous to talk on the phone or text while driving. At best, it's old news, if you can consider something that should be common knowledge to be news at all. However, research recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has earned the topic more attention than usual.

According to the NHTSA, driver distraction (caused by cell phone use as well as other factors) contributes to a quarter of all car crashes. The research also indicates that it makes no difference whether a driver is using a handheld or a hands-free mobile device: it's not the physical distraction of holding a phone that causes accidents, but rather the mental distraction involved in carrying on a conversation with a person who's not in the car with you. Studies from a variety of other sources, including the UK's Transport Research Laboratory, have found that texting is even worse than talking: it reduces reaction speed and steering ability more than being drunk does.

Though a handful of states have laws restricting talking or texting while driving, most don't — and for copier dealerships whose techs and salespeople are often on the road for work-related purposes, this can pose potential legal liabilities if it's proven that an employee involved in a crash was talking or texting at the time of the accident.

HR experts have begun to recommend that employers implement a written policy prohibiting their employees from using mobile phones while driving on company time; such policies may limit liability. More importantly, however, writing and enforcing such policies is the safe and sane thing to do. As Marsha Egan, president of The Egan Group, wrote in a recent piece for Business Week, “Regardless of laws and legal liability, texting while driving can result in injury to your employees and others. The caring approach is to express such concern, model the right behavior, and have your entire leadership do the same. Every time.”
 

Even with a hands-free device, there is no safe way to use a cell phone while operating a vehicle. As recent research has revealed, it isn't the physical distraction that's the problem, but the mental distraction. (Not that the physical distraction isn't dangerous too—text messaging while driving has been found to be more dangerous than driving under the influence.) Our best piece of advice is that you shouldn't use a phone at all when you're driving. But, let's be real. A lot of you spend hours every day driving to and from sales and service calls, and even those who don't drive on the job spend plenty of time commuting to and from work. In our wired society, it's hard to remain incommunicado when there's a phone sliding around on the dashboard. If you must talk while you're in the car, keep these tips from the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association in mind:

1. Get to know your wireless device and its features such as speed dial and redial. Every time you look at your phone, you're looking away from the road. Don't use your driving time to explore new features.

2. Position your wireless device within easy reach. Don't reach under seats, dig in your purse, or rifle through your toolbox looking for your phone. If it's out of your sight, put it out of your mind...even if it's ringing.

3. Dial sensibly and assess the traffic; place calls when you are not moving. Obviously, "stopped" is a better state than "full speed ahead" for activities that require you to look at your phone.

4. Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving; if necessary, suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions. Even if it's a client. And even if it's your boss or your dispatcher. It's okay to call people back. Really.

5. Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving. You should pull over to talk anyway, but you should definitely stop the vehicle if you decide to add writing to your repertoire of distracting activities.

6. Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that might divert your attention from the road. In other words: on the road might not be the best time to ask your boss about that raise you've been hoping for.

7. Use your wireless phone to help others in emergencies. If you see a crash, call 911. And then keep in mind that the person at fault was probably yakkety yakking or tappety tapping on his BlackBerry.

Last month, we asked our readers to respond to the following question: "If you were the boss and you had to let one employee at your dealership go, who would it be?"

Of 320 respondents, 42% said they'd fire a back office employee, 28% said they'd let a salesperson go, and another 28% said a manager should be the one to get the old heave-ho. With only 2% of the vote, service technicians win the award for most valuable employee this time around. Here's why some people voted the way they did:

"In this economy, anyone who doesn't work hard and produce for the dealership should be let go. Every position is on the line."

"My first choice would be the owner's salary. He is the only one who can afford to go a few months without it."

"During this economic crisis where leases are difficult to get approved, I think it's time to hunker down and do everything you can to keep the customers you have. Stop trying to hit the home runs. Go for the base hit. We need our support staff to maintain what we have. Sales are down so reduce your sales staff. You can always add them back when the economy turns around. It's harder to get customers back once they leave."

"The time and expense needed to train a service tech, manager, or office employee means that you keep them. Salespeople come and go, are easily replaced, and require little training. Also, a fresh look from a new salesperson can often produce sales where there seemed to be none."

"I voted for a back office person because generally there is more overlap among those positions than in other departments. In other words, the remaining employees should be able to cover the job. Managers who know what the job responsibilities are can delegate those tasks as needed to the remaining employees."

"Get rid of an under-performing rep and redistribute the accounts to people who will work hard."

"A service technician is more likely to be able to do the job of a back office employee, manager, or salesperson than any of them are likely to be able to do the tech's job. So a technician should be the last to go."

Have you seen any evidence that the economy is recovering?

1. Yes
2. No
3. It's impossible to tell.
4. Recession? What recession? Our business is great.