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BlackOutPro White Paper

For

Using Laptop Computers in the Mobile Workforce

Featured comments in this paper

  • Increased Productivity
  • Driver Safety
  • Company Liability Risk
  • Driver Education
  • Growth of Various Telematics Devices
  • Dangers Resulting from Driver Distractions
  • Comments from Experts, Respected Organizations, State Legislative Activity and Research Projects
    • Dr. Paul Atchley, University of Kansas
    • Dr. Thomas Dingus, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
    • Mr. Matt Sundeen, National Conference of State Legislatures
    • The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA)
    • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Statistics
    • Gallup Poll Results
    • National Insurance Institute Estimates
  • Monetary Awards for Failure to Practice Safe Use of Telematic Devices

 

Summary Remarks

The integration of laptop computers with fleet vehicles provides increased production and control of a mobile workforce.   However; as is usually the case with technological advances, they require behavioral and operational changes for those who use the technology.

Proactive companies can take two types of measures to maintain productivity gains that laptop computers provide while lessening driver distraction and providing a safe interaction with the public: passive and active.

Passive measures include publishing company policy that prohibits the use of telematic devices whenever a vehicle is in motion.   Secondly a policy could be invoked that requires the distracting items be kept out of the reach or vision of the driver.  

An active approach would be to automatically disable the laptop whenever the vehicle was in motion.   This ensures the driver will not be distracted by changing screens on a laptop and it sends a message that the company practiced due diligence in the deployment of the device.   It serves as a reminder to employees that safety is first on the mind of the company and should remain first on their minds as well.

If you are interested in reading the entire White Paper in PDF format , you will first need to be sure an Adobe Reader is installed on your machine. If you don't already have it, you can download at:click to follow the link

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