D525 No Distracted Driving

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NO DISTRACTED DRIVING

The safety and wellbeing of Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation employees, students, and visitors are of the utmost importance to the School Board. With the proliferation of electronic device and in-vehicle infotainment system use while driving, and its established correlation with vehicular accidents, the School Board adopts the following policy prohibiting distracted driving while driving school vehicles.

● Distracted driving is defined as any non-driving activity a motorist engages in that has the potential to significantly distract the motorist from the primary task of driving, thereby endangering the safety of the motorist and others near the vehicle. For purposes of this policy, the following non-exclusive list of conduct shall be prohibited while driving school vehicles as distracted driving:
- Cell phone or tablet use (Talking, texting, taking photos, viewing or making social media posts or videos, etc.), except when used in conjunction with hands free or voice operated technology or to call 911 to report a bona fide emergency (excludes School Police Officers)
- Eating or drinking, except for brief drinking necessary for hydration
- Grooming (Applying makeup, brushing hair, flossing, etc.)

Violations of this policy by employees will subject the individual to discipline, up to and including termination for employees. Pursuant to Indiana law, holding or using a telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle is also a criminal infraction punishable in an action brought by the prosecuting attorney.