GM addresses driver distraction during annual 'Drive Safely Work Week'

FOR RELEASE: September 11, 2001

New General Motors "Senseable Driving" Policy Asks Employees To Use Hands-Free Phone Technology While Driving A Motor Vehicle

GM addresses driver distraction during fifth annual 'Drive Safely Work Week'

WARREN, Mich. - As national "Drive Safely Work Week" opens, General Motors is encouraging its more than 200,000 employees in North America to use hands-free phone technology when operating company vehicles or when conducting GM business from private vehicles.

The move is part of a new "SenseAble driving" employee policy aimed at addressing all forms of driver distraction, which in the United States is responsible for at least a quarter of the 6 million crashes reported to police each year, according to government figures. The SenseAble Driving policy is effective Nov. 1, 2001.

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has made driver distraction the focus of its fifth annual "Drive Safely Work Week," Sept. 10-14. GM is a member of NETS.

GM also is encouraging its employees, retirees and their families to use hands-free phone technology whenever driving a vehicle, and to be mindful of other potentially distracting behaviors, such as taking a CD out of its case or tending to children.

"The health and safety of our employees is an overriding priority at GM," said William Kemp, executive director, GM Safety Communications. "As one of the world's largest employers, it is especially appropriate this week to unveil a policy further aimed at enhancing the safety of our employees, their families and others on the road."

The new policy covers both GM-owned and privately owned phones, as long as they are being used to conduct GM business.

GM has been distributing hands-free technology, such as headsets and ear pieces, to employees using company-owned cellular phones. During the next several weeks, GM will complete the distribution so that those users will be able to comply with the policy. U. S. employees driving company vehicles equipped with OnStar Personal Calling have already been asked to activate and use this voice-activated alternative to a handheld cell phone. OnStar, a wholly owned GM subsidiary, is the industry's leading provider of telematics services and currently has 1.5 million subscribers across the United States and Canada.

Last month, an analysis of OnStar's database revealed that out of 8.1 million embedded cell phone calls placed to an OnStar Advisor between 1996 and April 2001, only two crashes severe enough to deploy an air bag occurred while drivers were using the OnStar system. There is no evidence that the calls actively contributed to the crashes; in fact, an examination of underlying records indicated that there were other factors at play in both crashes.

"With this unprecedented research in hand, we know that an embedded phone system can be used safely," said Kemp. "Clearly, we want to encourage our employees to use in-vehicle communications systems that allow them to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel."

"SenseAble driving," a three-part safety program combining research, education and technology, was launched in October 2000. Aside from its research initiative, which is ongoing, GM was the world's first and only automaker to establish a set of common-sense "guiding principles" to govern the design and use of telematics technology in future vehicles.

In addition, GM has established a pilot program with the Michigan Secretary of State's office to educate drivers about the risks of distracted driving with brochures, posters and a video that are now being offered to vehicle registrars' offices nationwide. Another part of the education initiative is GM's Driver Distraction Demonstration (D3), a fun, interactive computer exercise that shows users first-hand the risks of multi-tasking while driving and the need to make sensible choices. D3, as well as other information on "SenseAble driving," can be found at www.senseabledriving.com and www.gmability.com.

General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. In 2000, GM earned $5 billion on sales of $183.3 billion. It employs about 372,000 people globally.

See Policy below:

SenseAble Driving Policy

General Motors is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees, their families and others on the road. Along with designing, engineering and manufacturing vehicles with features to help keep drivers and passengers safe, this commitment includes increasing awareness of the potential dangers caused by distractions.

Driver distraction comes in many forms - from noisy children in the back seat to radio dials and hand-held cell phones. To help minimize distractions, the following policy will apply to all drivers of company vehicles, and to employees driving their personal vehicles while on or conducting GM business. As it relates to cell phone use, the policy applies whether the cell phone is owned by GM or the individual driver.

GM strongly encourages employees, retirees and their families to follow these practices whenever driving a vehicle.

• The driver is responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle at all times. Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on the drive.
• Exercise good judgment in avoiding distractions, particularly during challenging driving conditions.
• Do not take notes or look up a phone number while driving.
• Program your favorite stations into the radio for easy access. Arrange tapes and CDs in an easy-to-reach place and remove them from their cases when you are stopped or parked.
• Wait until the vehicle is parked before retrieving items that have fallen to the floor.
• Obey all local ordinances and/or state laws, including those addressing the use of cellular phones.
• Avoid making or receiving a call while driving in demanding conditions.
• Cellular phones used in a company vehicle, or in a personal vehicle while on or conducting GM business, should be equipped with hands-free technology (e.g., voice-activation technology or an ear piece).
• Hands-free technology will be provided to users of company-owned cellular phones.
• Use OnStar Personal Calling or integrated voice activation whenever possible.
• Drivers of GM company-owned vehicles equipped with OnStar Personal Calling should use the feature when placing calls while driving.
• Use pre-stored memory dialing features whenever possible.
• Recognize that talking on a cell phone while driving is different than talking on a phone while at home or work. Develop and use safe cell phone practices.

General Motors is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees, their families and others on the road. Along with designing, engineering and manufacturing vehicles with features to help keep drivers and passengers safe, this commitment includes increasing awareness of the potential dangers caused by distractions.

Driver distraction comes in many forms - from noisy children in the back seat to radio dials and hand-held cell phones. To help minimize distractions, the following policy will apply to all drivers of company vehicles, and to employees driving their personal vehicles while on or conducting GM business. As it relates to cell phone use, the policy applies whether the cell phone is owned by GM or the individual driver.

GM strongly encourages employees, retirees and their families to follow these practices whenever driving a vehicle.

• The driver is responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle at all times. Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on the drive.
• Exercise good judgment in avoiding distractions, particularly during challenging driving conditions.
• Do not take notes or look up a phone number while driving.
• Program your favorite stations into the radio for easy access. Arrange tapes and CDs in an easy-to-reach place and remove them from their cases when you are stopped or parked.
• Wait until the vehicle is parked before retrieving items that have fallen to the floor.
• Obey all local ordinances and/or state laws, including those addressing the use of cellular phones.
• Avoid making or receiving a call while driving in demanding conditions.
• Cellular phones used in a company vehicle, or in a personal vehicle while on or conducting GM business, should be equipped with hands-free technology (e.g., voice-activation technology or an ear piece).
• Hands-free technology will be provided to users of company-owned cellular phones.
• Use OnStar Personal Calling or integrated voice activation whenever possible.
• Drivers of GM company-owned vehicles equipped with OnStar Personal Calling should use the feature when placing calls while driving.
• Use pre-stored memory dialing features whenever possible.
• Recognize that talking on a cell phone while driving is different than talking on a phone while at home or work. Develop and use safe cell phone practices.