I have had more incidents where I work in the last two years because of our drivers using a cellphone than the last 14 combined.
And these drivers drive concrete mixers.
We now have a policy that if they are ever caught using a cellphone while driving they will get one warning, just one, second time they are released. Fired, terminated, hit the road Jack, whatever.
It absolutely frosts me every time I see some idiot on their cellphone or blackberry (texting, yes, texting while driving). This happens everyday. I can’t imagine what is so important that they risk injury to themselves (or others whom they obviously don’t give a damn about) that they have to preoccupy themselves with a conversation (most I assume are frivolous) or message. My auto was rear ended by a 22 year old kid while I was waiting for a train to pass. As soon as I heard the screech of his tires as he attempted to stop I saw in my rear view mirror he was on his cell phone (5:30 am in the morning, who the he$$ was he talking to at 5:30 in the morning?). As I asked for his driver’s license to prepare for the accident report, he produced a ticket given his license was being held as a result of a previous offense. Guess what it was...driving while using his cell phone. If I could have ringed his neck right there, I would have. The technology is wonderful, but there is a right time and place for it, and driving two tons of steel and being preoccupied by it isn’t it.
No warning, no mercy.
The worst violator of the policy you ask? The owner of the business. I've actually had to remind him of it when I don't answer his calls.