Tips for Avoiding Distracted Driving: 6 Suggestions for Awareness Month
It’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month: Here are 6 Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving and Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents. While many people think of distracted driving as being on the phone while driving, distracted driving can take many forms. From watching a video (even while in traffic) to children in the back seat, various responsibilities and activities can take our attention off the road. However, that split second that we are distracted by passengers or other activities can have dire consequences. This month is Distracted Driving Awareness Month so we’ve compiled a list of six tips to help you keep your eyes on the road for your safety and the safety of others.
6 Tips to Keep Yourself Focused on the Road
Accidents, by their nature, are unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean drivers can’t be proactive about avoiding and preventing them, especially when it comes to efforts to limit distracted driving. By committing yourself to avoid distraction while driving, you can have that split second back to make the necessary maneuver to avoid an accident. Help keep yourself, passengers, and others on the road safe by practicing these six tips.
1. Pull Over If There Is Something You Need to Do
It may just take a second to reach into your bag to look for something, but seconds can be worth lifetimes on the road. Reaching for a cell phone is a common distraction that can be safely managed by pulling over. If there is something you need to do, whether it’s looking for something, picking up a call, or responding to a text, it’s safer to pull to the side and complete your task before proceeding.
2. Inform Others That You’ll Be Driving
Loved ones will not want to distract you while you’re driving because they likely understand the risk of distracted driving, especially from cell phones, which are a significant source of distraction. Informing others of your driving status is a proactive measure to avoid distractions, including the dangers of texting, dialing, or reaching for your phone while driving. If you let them know before you start driving that you’ll be behind the wheel for a certain amount of time, that can help them know not to text or call during that time, thereby reducing the risk associated with cell phone use while driving. This approach not only helps in minimizing distractions but also contributes to the broader efforts to convince drivers to avoid distractions and enhance road safety.
3. Silence Your Cell Phone to Prevent Distractions
Many of us like to feel connected at all times through our phones. However, those constant phone notifications can distract you even if you aren’t looking at them. By silencing your phone, you can better focus on the road. Alternatively, using hands free devices can be a safer option to ensure you remain focused on the road while still being reachable in emergencies.
4. Ask Passengers for Help
If there’s a passenger next to you and you need to skip a song, look at the GPS, send a text, or adjust the climate controls, they can do these tasks for you. This way, the task gets completed, but your focus and attention remain on the road in front of you.
5. Set Specific Safe Driving Rules for Your Teen Drivers
If you find your children can often be a distraction on the road, teaching them to wait until you’re parked before asking for something or telling you something can significantly improve your focus. Kids might not always understand they’re distracting you, but they’ll eventually get it with time and consistency. Teen drivers and teenage passengers can be particularly prone to distractions, emphasizing the importance of setting clear rules for them. If they begin to distract you while driving, pull over and address the issue before getting back on the road.
6. Save Important Discussions for Later
Important conversations can be a huge distraction for drivers. You want to have that important conversation and listen carefully to the other person, but the mind cannot properly focus on driving and giving full attention to the conversation. Rather than do both things with limited attention, ask the other person to wait until the destination or until you’re parked before having your conversation. Similarly, sending or reading a text message is a form of distraction that should be saved for when the vehicle is parked.
Contact Mintz Law Firm for an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
Even when we take the most care to avoid accidents, sometimes other drivers make them impossible to avoid. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a reckless or thoughtless driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
At Mintz Law Firm, we can help assess your case to determine your legal options for recovering compensation. Our personal injury lawyers can help you collect the necessary evidence and build a strong claim so you can receive full and fair compensation for your injury and other losses.
Schedule a consultation today at (303) 462-2999 or by filling out our contact form.