Did you know preoccupied driving has taken the top spot as the number one cause for accidents, overtaking drunk driving? In fact, over 3,000 people are killed each year as a result of distracted driving per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With April designated as the National Safety Council’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, here are seven safety tips to remember from becoming a victim of preoccupied or distracted driving.
- Put anything that can be a distraction on the back seat. To avoid the temptation to reach for your phone, work files, food, or cosmetics, put them on the back seat so you do not have the option to reach for them while driving. Remember, multi-task outside the car.
- Do not talk or text on your smartphone while driving. Unless it is an emergency, it can wait. If it is an emergency, pull over and stop. Pull-over stops are designed for this so take advantage of them.
- Get your grooming needs taken care of before you hit the road. Many of us are not early risers. However, the rear-view mirror of your car is not the place to put makeup on or shave in a time crunch. It is a distraction that can easily be avoided and could save your life. No matter how tempting to save time avoid this killer distraction.
- Take the time to plan your trip. Know where you are going ahead of time by planning your route – playing with a GPS system or your smartphone to constantly get directions is as bad as texting while driving.
- Of course, if you are sleepy or drowsy, pull off the road and rest.
- Put the sandwich down. Avoid eating while driving. Easting distracts from your manual, cognitive and visual skills when you are driving.
- Whenever possible, try to limit the number of passengers and activity inside your car.
