• According to researchers at the University of Utah, using a cell phone – whether or not it’s hands-free – delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol level of .08 percent.
• People who use a wireless hand-held device while driving are four times more likely to be involved in injury-related crashes (NHTSA).
• Younger less experienced drivers under the age of 20 have a higher proportion of distracted driving crashes that lead to fatalities.

The bottom line: Driving while talking on the phone is dangerous

But if those numbers don’t get you to put down the phone while driving, consider one more set of statistics revealed in a survey by Nationwide Mutual Insurance: While 81% of the population admits to talking on the phone while driving, 98% consider themselves to be safe drivers. Meanwhile, the reality is we are not as safe as we think we are: 45% say they have been hit or nearly hit by a driver who was talking on the phone at the time.

This means nearly half of us are wrong about being safe drivers.

Smart wireless expense management for your organization also mitigates risk

As the wireless industry continues to evolve, Cellution has a first-hand view into the challenges facing many organizations. With lawsuits growing in frequency and settlements growing in amount, many organizations are struggling to catch up with critical protections. One of the core elements in developing a strong wireless telecom expense management strategy is establishing and enforcing a wireless policy for your employees.  (Check out the informative presentation from a recent Cellution webinar: How to Develop a Strong Corporate Wireless Policy.) And while most companies can require employees to sign policy documents, enforcing those documents is still difficult.

Today, there are ways to protect yourself, as well as employees or even loved ones, with new, relatively inexpensive software for your phone and car. The software, called Key2SafeDriving, prevents calls and texts from going out or coming in to a designated cell phone while the car is turned on.

The software-device combo offers a number of ingenious features that strike a balance to achieve maximum flexibility and maximum protection at the same time:

• Hands-Free options available – The software is flexible enough to allow a variety of usage options. Instead of completely blocking all calls, the device can be programmed to allow only hands-free calls through a Bluetooth device.

• Emergency calls always allowed – By default, emergency calls can always be made or received using the Key2SafeDriving software. In addition to calls to and from 911, fire, highway patrol, etc. , a setting can be engaged that also allows a “safe list” of phone numbers that will always ring-through, such as a preschool number or cell phone number for a child or other family member.

• Tamper-resistant monitoring – The Key2SafeDriving software can be set up to notify authorized contacts when the device is unplugged or profile settings are changed. This may be particularly useful if your safe driving software is being purchased for family members or for employees driving fleet vehicles.

• No subscription required – This safe driving software is an easy-to-use system that installs in minutes. There is no subscription required.

Exclusive 10% discount on safe driving software through Cellution

Cellution, your favorite provider of wireless expense management services, is making the Key2SafeDriving Software available for a special discounted price. Whether your interest is related to corporate wireless usage or your own family’s cell phone habits, Key2SafeDriving can bring you the peace of mind you’re looking for. Find out more at www.1Cellution.com/SafeDriving or call for more details at 1-866-887-WRLS (9757). Enterprise solutions are also in development. Contact Cellution for more details at sales@1Cellution.com.

How many of us actually refuse to answer that phone when it rings and we’re on the road? The reality is, just like smoking cigarettes or eating poorly, many of us are willing to risk our own hides in the name of convenience and immediate gratification. And we think we’ve got enough self-control to stop when it gets dangerous.

But do you trust other drivers to do that? Of course not! If you drive more than 10 minutes a day, you’ve seen the evidence yourself. The most annoying drivers on the road today are no longer old people or those with a license plates from Quebec …. They are people on cell phones!

Corporate exposure to risk is increasing in the age of wireless

Now consider what that means in the corporate world with an ever-increasing workforce of wireless employees. Not only are these employees driving and talking during business hours, but they are also driving and talking on a phone provided to them or paid for by their employer in the name of efficiency and productivity.

Inevitably, these employees are making mistakes, and lawsuits are starting to crop up. And unfortunately, paying out millions of dollars in lawsuit damages tends to negate the efficiency and productivity enterprises are seeking. Consider a recent settlement by lumber wholesaler Dyke Industries for more than $16 million.

This is why many companies are beginning to develop and enforce a stronger Corporate Wireless Policy, and why Cellution is holding a webinar on the subject next Wednesday, June 16.  In the complimentary webinar, Cellution will host Telecom Law expert Martha Buyer to discuss “How to Develop a Strong Corporate Wireless Policy: Pointers and pitfalls of protecting your company without sacrificing employee productivity.”

Ms. Buyer is a nationally recognized telecommunications law attorney, a former telecom network engineer and a long-time member of the Society of Telecommunications Consultants. Her presentation will share real life cases studies involving millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements, and provide valuable tips on crafting and enforcing an enterprise wide mobile policy for your employees.

As the demand for using cell phones in the corporate world continues to increase, now’s the time to make sure your company is protected with a strong, enforceable policy. Sign up for our webinar, contact Cellution or contact the Law Offices of Martha Buyer to learn more.

P.S. – Protecting your company from lawsuits isn’t the only reason to have a strong corporate wireless policy. Not only can employees inadvertently run up charges with personal texting, gaming and other data driven expenses, but today’s smartphones and wireless devices are also powerful tools that can be used in less than savory ways. Many of these devices include exceptional cameras and data capabilities, and can be operated in stealthy ways, increasing the threat to the employer of security breaches.

That’s why we’re starting this informative blog. Cellution’s team of dedicated wireless device management experts represents the cream of the crop in terms of pure knowledge for managing wireless expenses. As one of the only telecom expense management providers dedicated exclusively to the wireless space, we’ve got more background and more first-hand experience achieving the results you want to achieve.

Please stay tuned as we bring you the latest news, trends and best practices on managing your wireless expenses, while keeping your mobile workforce empowered with the devices they need to get the job done. We hope to bring you great new ideas and insights to create the visibility, control and cost savings you seek.