Correcting the Behavior Behind Distracted Driving

 

There are many aspects of the safety landscape. Most happen within a facility, but driving is different. It’s also an area that has the propensity to endanger many lives. To prevent distracted driving, individuals must understand the behavior behind it to change. Offering insights on the topic is expert Carly Baez, Safety Manager II at Kitchell, who joined the Safety Justice League hosts.

Baez carved out a career in safety through some nontraditional angles, working in the workers’ comp space as well as working with associations, speaking and training. She’s led webinars on distracted driving behavior changes and is part of the Annual Arizona Distracted Driving summit.

One thing she learned in her career is, “It’s about changing culture and the way people look at safety.”

When it comes to distracted driving, laws are great, but they don’t address the behavior. “Hands-free is not enough. Distraction is distraction. With all the things happening, is it really safer?” Baez said.

Baez noted it would be great if all she had to say was don’t text and drive. “It doesn’t work that way. We all know we shouldn’t, but we have to understand the behavior to correct it.”

Behavior is often rooted in past experience. Baez shared what many people see before they even become drivers. People drink coffee, eat behind the wheel, and put on makeup. “We see all this, but nothing bad is happening, so we accept it as typical behavior.”

Baez countered that making a plan for driving in the car is as essential as planning anything else. One exercise she recommended was not responding to a phone for 30 minutes. “Anxiety may go up when you don’t respond. It’s reprogramming. In those 30 minutes, what did you actually miss? Likely not much, so why can’t you silence the phone while driving.”

More Stories Like This:

Psychological Health: The Often Hidden Side of Supporting a Healthy Workplace

How to Keep Safety First During a Skilled Labor Shortage

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Commerce media
A Look at the Rise of Commerce Media Networks: How Nift Helps Brands Own How Their Message Shows Up
July 2, 2025

As traditional digital advertising struggles to retain consumer trust, brands are exploring new, more authentic ways to connect with shoppers. Platforms like commerce media networks, which weave together commerce, content, and data, are emerging as powerful tools in this shift. Research from MG2 Advisory reveals that only about 37% of consumers feel brands genuinely…

Read More
Hospitality leadership
Heart-First Hospitality Leadership: How Saying ‘Yes’ Transforms Guest Experiences, Boosts Staff Morale, and Drives Business Results
July 2, 2025

As the hospitality industry emerges from years of pandemic-driven upheaval, hospitality leadership is evolving to meet new challenges. Leaders are looking for new ways to retain staff, elevate guest satisfaction, and drive revenue without burning out their teams. One trend gaining traction is the power of “Yes”: empowering employees to say yes more often,…

Read More
civic leadership
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth’s Civic Leadership Journey: What Politics Teaches About People
July 2, 2025

What does a mayor learn about human nature? In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Gerard Hudspeth, longtime mayor of Denton, Texas, and a respected figure in civic leadership. Drawing from his years in public service, Hudspeth explores how leading a city reveals the core…

Read More
sepsis
Debunking Sepsis Myths – Episode 1
July 1, 2025

In the first episode of The Michael Rothman podcast, we address misconceptions about sepsis in healthcare. Although it’s often claimed that sepsis accounts for nearly a third of hospital deaths, many of these deaths are linked to chronic conditions with sepsis as a secondary factor. The frequently cited statistic that delays in treating sepsis increase…

Read More