Recent studies show that people who are reading or writing text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to crash. And most people agree that restricting the use of technology for sending and receiving text messages, emails, and other similar communications while driving makes sense. It is simply too dangerous.

Effective Dec. 1, 2009, it will be unlawful to drive a motor vehicle and use a mobile telephone or other similar digital technology for email, texting, access to the Internet or games in North Carolina.

This law is important, but employers need to go further.

As a business matter, we often need our employees to be accessible while out of the office. Email and/or texting are one easy way to stay in touch. However, safety requires more concentration to driving.

The concern for employers is potential liability. Let’s put that in plain English. If one of your employees should crash and cause damage while reading or sending a business-related text message, you could be in for a big law suit. And you could lose.

You can take preliminary steps toward protecting yourself with a comprehensive written policy which addresses the use of electronic communications while driving on behalf of your company. After the policy is adopted by you, the employer, the policy should be properly communicated to all of your employees and consistently enforced.

If you have questions or would like us to help you to create and enforce a policy to cover the new law, please contact us.