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Distractions on the road come in many forms. If you or someone else you know think you can drive just fine while talking on your phone, eating, or adjusting navigation, think about this:
More than 450,000 people were injured in crashes that reportedly involved distracted driving in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And 40,000 Americans died on the roads in 2016, which is a very significant increase in deaths during the last decade.
According to the 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
Whether someone you love has been known to text and drive, or you have found yourself distracted behind the wheel, these 10 tips may help.
- Use Do Not Disturb on your iPhone or other mobile devices. This way you can silence calls, alerts, and notifications that you receive. If your mobile phone does not have a “do not disturb” mode perhaps use a phone app to help resist temptation? Some examples we have found are listed below, however, there are many more to choose from.
- TrueMotion Mojo offers coaching and positive motivation to help teens become better drivers. The app automatically begins tracking a trip when it detects driving behavior. Participants earn points if they avoid swiping their smartphone screen, typing and taking or making calls.
- AT&T DriveMode helps minimize distractions to help teens become better drivers. The app includes features such as blocking smartphone notifications, calls and texting while a teen is driving. It can also send alerts to parents if the app is turned off or features are disabled.
- Vow not to multi-task before getting behind the wheel, so you can focus on the road.
- Avoid calling or texting family members and friends when you know they are driving.
- Encourage your employer to have a distracted driving policy that includes waiting to talk with employees until they are safely parked.
- Make sure kids are in proper car seats and that pets stay secured in their zone in the back of your vehicle. It can also help reduce distractions if pets are not roaming about the car.
- Parents can model good behavior for their children by demonstrating attentive driving. Avoid texting, eating, grooming or calling someone while behind the wheel.
- Programming your navigation system while you drive can take your eyes off the road. It’s better to ask a passenger to do it or to enter your destination before you leave.
- If you see someone texting or otherwise driving while distracted, say something and let them know that you are not comfortable with that behavior. Encourage your children to do the same when they are passengers in a friend’s car. It could save a life.
- Consider restricting the number of passengers until your teen or new driver gains experience behind the wheel.
- Avoiding reaching. Resist the urge to reach for items if they fall while driving. Taking your eyes off the road to search for an item can make you more likely to have an accident.
Whenever you’re on the road, it’s not a time to multi-task. Focus on driving safely.
More information and statistics can be found here:
- www.nsc.org
- Safeco Insurance – Avoid Deadly Distractions
- Travelers Insurance – Distracted Driving Quiz
- Progressive Insurance – High tech Solutions
- Britton and Britton blog – 5 Reasons Texans May See a Rise in Auto Insurance Premiums
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