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Sample Cell Phone/PDA Use While Traveling Policy

This is a sample of a cell phone/pda policy that pertains to employees who are on the road. The company, a large association that supports independent fuel distributors, has many employees who travel frequently for business.

April 01, 2009 — CSO —

Our Company recognizes that the employees are our most valuable asset, and the most important contributors to our continued growth and success. Our Company is firmly committed to the safety of our employees. will do everything possible to prevent workplace accidents and is committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees.

To further this goal, [your company] has developed a Cell Phone/Hand Held Device Use Policy effective [Effective date].

Purpose:
Driver inattention is a factor in a majority of motor vehicle accidents. We are not only concerned about your welfare as a [Your company] employee, but also the welfare of others who could be put in harms way by inattentive driving.

Mobile phone and other hand held device use while driving is a common, often harmful, distraction. Many countries and localities have prohibited mobile phone/hand held device use while driving. Researchers at the University of Toronto found the risk of having a traffic accident while using a cell phone or similar device to be the same as driving drunk. For these reasons, drivers may not use hand held devices to place work-related calls or while operating a vehicle while on company business.

As a driver, your first responsibility is to pay attention to the road. When driving on business, or driving while conducting business on behalf of the company in any other manner, the following applies:
Procedures:
Definition - Mobile Hand Held Units: Hand held devices may include cell phones, pagers, palm pilots, faxes and other communication devices.

Allow voicemail to handle your calls and return them when safe.
If you need to place or receive a call, pull off the road to a safe location and stop the vehicle before using your phone.
Ask a passenger to make or take the call.
Inform regular callers of the best time to reach you based upon your driving schedule.
The only exception to this policy is for calls placed to 9-1-1.
If placing or accepting an emergency call, keep the call short and use hands-free options, if available.
When receiving an emergency call, ask the caller to hold briefly until you can safely pull your vehicle off the road.

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