Even texters and drivers hate texters and drivers (in farming too)

Posted on December 16, 2020 in

By Kate McAndrews, Vita Plus sales manager
Cellphone use while operating equipment is a form of distracted driving and it is extremely dangerous. If you don’t have a safe communication system in place for you and your farm crew, developing a plan in the offseason would be time well invested. 

By Kate McAndrews, Vita Plus sales manager
This message came from a new billboard just outside of Sauk Centre, Minnesota, although I added the farming part.  I am thankful for the reminders these billboards and other relevant sources share with us from time to time.  Even during a time when we may be driving less frequently, I hope we continue to challenge ourselves and each other to reduce our distracted driving habits because each of us is so critically important to those around us at work and in our personal lives.

Vita Plus employee owners completed a survey on distracted driving in 2013.  As I reviewed those survey results, one page stood out to me: “What can Vita Plus do or provide to help you better live our Safety Value as it pertains to distracted driving?”  This stood out to me because the answers to this question came from my fellow employee owners, and it made me think about how we can all follow through on these requests to hold ourselves and other teammates accountable to minimize distracted driving.  For example, many of us talk on the phone while driving as needed, but have we tried using an earpiece or hands-free system?  In 2013, more than half of Vita Plus employee owners were not using those technologies, but I would guess more are using them now because of increased availability and more state laws prohibiting the use of handheld cellphones while driving. 

When it comes to texting while driving, are we equipped with a hands-free system, or is texting disabled altogether to prevent the temptation of looking at the message and feeling the need to respond immediately?  Everyone around the world thrives on communication and efficiency, but we also need to thrive on safety.  Have we explored every communication tool to find something that could work for each of us?

Do we think about distracted driving any differently when it applies to operating farm equipment?  While a large percentage of time is spent in a field at slower speeds, and perhaps with autosteer, what about when you are driving on the road to the next field with other vehicles around, and especially during harvest?  According to the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP), tractor accidents consistently rank as the number one cause of fatal injuries in agriculture.  To address these accidents, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) have developed a joint safety alert urging equipment operators to turn off their cellphones while operating off-road equipment.  Mike Pankonin, AEM senior director of technical and safety services, said, “We know in today’s connected world that it’s more important than ever to remind workers to focus on the job and be alert and aware and mindful of their environment and safety.” 

If you don’t have a safe communication system in place for you and your farm crew, developing a plan in the offseason would be time well invested.  The AEM/MSHA initiative includes this printable handout that discusses the inherent risks of distracted driving.  You can access other AEM safety materials here.

Lastly, Farm Progress shared these tips to limit texting and driving in an article:

1. Put your phone out of reach.  If you cannot reach it, you will not be tempted to use it for texting.  You can also still use your Bluetooth®-enabled hands-free mode if you must take a phone call.

2. Set up a shortcut.  You can indicate to the individual you are conversing with that you need to pause the conversation by typing “#X” before you drive.  You can also add a keyboard shortcut to convert a phrase before you drive.  On Android devices, you can access and add to your phone’s dictionary under “Settings” and “Language & Input.”  On Apple devices, you can access your keyboard shortcuts via “Settings” and “General.”  Shortcuts are also useful to setup as a timesaver when you text and are not in motion!

3. Download an app.  Some wireless service providers offer free mobile device applications that allow you to set up auto-respond mode when you are in motion.  Do you want to prevent your employees from texting while driving?  Check out Cellcontrol – a solution that helps avoid device distraction and can also provide mapping history.

We are all role models for each other in almost everything we do.  We watch and learn from our peers and those in our work groups.  This is a special time of year as the holiday season is upon us and a new year is around the corner.  Thank you for taking a moment to remind yourself of the dangers of all distracted driving and pledging to yourself, your family, and your fellow agricultural enthusiasts that safety can’t be compromised.

Category: Forage Foundations
Safety