Distracted Driver
Avoiding distractions while driving could save your life
You’ve seen them on the roads; you might even know a few of them.
And you could be one yourself.
Distracted drivers can come in all shapes, sizes, ages and experience levels. Even if you’re not one today, you could become one at any moment — in the time it takes you to answer your cell phone or check the kids in the back seat when you’re driving through {neighborhoods}.
If you or someone else you know thinks you can drive just fine while talking on your phone, think about this: More than 434,000 people were injured in crashes that reportedly involved distracted driving in 2014, according to distraction.gov. More than 3,000 of those people died. Figures show that young drivers are especially prone to engaging in risky, distracted behavior according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. So it is important to stress upon them that distracted driving is not an option and more important to live by example.
Distractions on the road come in many forms, according to www.distraction.gov, a U.S. Department of Transportation website. There are three main kinds of distractions:
Visual – taking your eyes off the road
Manual –taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing
To help you avoid all three kinds of distractions the next time you’re behind the wheel of your car here are a few tips:
Put your phone in silent mode and store it away from the front seat or in a purse or bag. This helps reduce temptation.
Have a passenger answer your phone or return text messages for you.
If a call or a text can’t wait, pull over in a safe spot before using your phone.
This one seems obvious, but finish shaving or applying makeup before you get in the car!
If you’re emotional, wait until you’ve calmed down before hitting the road.
Avoid road rage. You’ll be happier and safer.
Remember it only takes 4.6 seconds to cover the length of a football field going 45 mph; a lot of bad things can happen in that stretch when being distracted. Whenever you’re on the road, it’s not a time to multi-task. Focus on driving safely.