Vehicle Operations, Transportation, & Drivers

Driving

Any employee driving a Company vehicle or driving on Company business must observe all safety, traffic, and criminal laws of this state.

Drivers Licenses

Employees who use an automobile in the course of their work will have their driving record checked prior to employment and must provide proof of auto insurance.

Cell Phone Use

Employees whose job responsibilities include driving and who must use a cell phone for business purposes are expected to refrain from using their phone while driving. Allow voice mail to handle calls when possible. Safety must come before all other concerns. Regardless of the circumstances, including slow or stopped traffic, employees are strongly encouraged to pull off to the side of the road and safely stop the vehicle before placing or accepting a call.

 If acceptance of a call is unavoidable and pulling over is not a safe option,

  • Use hands-free devices;

  • Use the voice-activated or “speed dial” feature;

  • Keep the call short;

  • Do not take notes, text message or e-mail while driving;

  • Refrain from discussion of complicated or emotional issues; and,

  • Keep eyes and attention on the road and both hands free to operate the vehicle.

 Special care should be taken in situations;

  • When there is moderate to heavy traffic;

  • Inclement weather; or,

  • Driving in an unfamiliar area.

In situations where employees drive and accept phone calls, state law, as well as this policy, requires the use of “hands-free” equipment. Under no circumstances are employees allowed to place themselves at risk to fulfill business needs. Employees who are charged with traffic violations resulting from the use of their phone while driving will be solely responsible for all liabilities that result from such actions. Violations of this policy will be subject to discipline, including termination.

Drowsy Driving

Every driver has a responsibility to drive safely and follow the established rules of the road. If we receive serious or repeated reports of drowsy driving, the driver will be subject to disciplinary action.

What is drowsy driving?

Drowsy driving is driving when you are tired; here are some ways drivers and riders may notice that someone is driving drowsy:

  • Appearing tired, exhausted, or sleepy; Frequently blinking, having trouble keeping their head up and/or eyes on the road; Frequently yawning; Nodding off; Following other vehicles too closely; Unable to keep their vehicle in the lane or on the road.

Why is drowsy driving unsafe?

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, a lack of sleep may lead to and may cause:

  • Slower reaction times; Impaired judgment, situational awareness, and vision; Increased levels of risk-taking; Frequent blinking or microsleep, where someone literally dozes off for a few seconds while driving; Problems with information processing; Memory impairment (for example, around how many hours they’ve driven); Attention failure (for example, not paying attention to traffic signs)

How can a driver prevent drowsy driving? Here are some tips from GHSA:

  • Be well rested before hitting the road. Several nights of fewer than 7-8 hours of sleep slows reaction time and results in a sleep debt. It may take several nights of being well rested to repay that debt and make someone ready for a long road trip.

  • Schedule frequent breaks on long trips. Stop every 2 hours or 100 miles.

  • Do not drink alcohol. Just one beer when someone is sleep-deprived mimics the effect of 2 or 3 when they’re well rested.

  • Do not rely on caffeine to stay awake. Sleep is the only proven remedy when someone is tired.

How does Promise Senior Solutions receive reports that a driver is driving drowsy? Riders can contact the local branch and report instances when their driver drove drowsy.

What happens to the driver if a rider reports they were driving while drowsy? A complaint of drowsy driving may temporarily affect a driver’s schedule while the complaint is being investigated. Serious or repeated claims of drowsy driving can result in disciplinary action.

Will a driver be affected by false rider reports? We review each report for signs of fraud. We are continually implementing new processes and technology to identify and discourage user fraud. Any report we find to be related to fraud would not affect a driver’s schedule status. Riders who submit false information to Promise Senior Solutions or otherwise engage in fraudulent activity violate our User Agreement and risk losing access to Transportation Services.

Dangerous Driving

Every driver has a responsibility to drive safely and follow the established rules of the road and all applicable laws. If we receive serious or repeated reports of dangerous driving and/or violations of applicable driving laws, the driver will be subject to disciplinary action.

What is dangerous driving?

Distracted driving

  • According to our partners at the Governors Highway Safety Association, distraction can take many forms—from phone handling or texting to drinking a cup of coffee or adjusting your visor—and those behaviors may take a driver’s focus off the road.

Not following traffic laws

Aggressive driving

  • Speeding; Braking suddenly; Tailgating; Abruptly accelerating or stopping; Swerving, including into pedestrian walkways or bike lanes

Driving under the influence

  • Using or being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

  • Promise Senior Solutions has a Zero Tolerance Policy on driving under the influence.

How does Promise Senior Solutions receive reports that a driver is driving dangerously? Riders can contact the local branch and report instances when their driver drove dangerously. Unsafe driving reports include any complaint that mentions a specific issue with the driver’s operation of the vehicle that resulted in a perceived unsafe, high-risk, or dangerous experience.

What happens to the driver if a rider reports they were driving unsafely? Every time a rider reports potentially dangerous driving, a driver will be contacted by their supervisor letting them know about the complaint. We also let them know that serious or repeated claims of unsafe driving can result in disciplinary action.

False rider reports?

Management will review each report for signs of fraud. We are continually implementing new processes and technology to identify and discourage fraud. Any report we find to be related to fraud would not affect a driver’s schedule status. Users who submit false information to Promise Senior Solutions or otherwise engage in fraudulent activity violate Promise Senior Solutions User Agreement.

No driver may consume alcohol or illegal drugs while driving a Company vehicle, while on Company business, while in a Company vehicle, or prior to the employee's shift if such consumption would result in a detectable amount of alcohol or illegal drugs being present in the employee's system while on duty.

In addition, no driver may consume or use any substance, regardless of legality or prescription status, if by so doing, the driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle and carry out other work-related duties would be impaired or diminished.

No driver may pick up or transport non-employees while in a Company vehicle or on Company business, unless there is a work-related need to do so.

Any illegal, dangerous, or other conduct while driving that would tend to place the lives or property of others at risk is prohibited.

Anything a driver does in connection with the operation of motor vehicles can affect that driver's fitness for duty or insurability as a driver. Regardless of fault, circumstance, on or off-duty status, time, or place, any driver who receives a traffic citation from or is arrested by a law enforcement officer, or who is involved in any kind of accident while driving, must inform an appropriate supervisor about the incident immediately or as soon as possible thereafter.

Any penalty, fine, imprisonment, fee, or other adverse action imposed by a court in connection with such an incident must be reported immediately to an appropriate supervisor. In both of the above situations, the matter will be reported to the Company's insurance carrier so that a prompt decision on continued coverage of the employee can be made.

The driver involved in an accident or cited by a law enforcement official for violating a motor vehicle law must turn over any documentation relating to such incident as soon as possible to management, and must cooperate fully with Promise Senior Solutions, LLC in verifying the information with other parties involved and with law enforcement authorities.

While parking tickets will not affect a driver's insurability, any parking ticket issued on a vehicle that is being used for company business should be reported to an appropriate supervisor at the earliest possible opportunity.