When behind the wheel, drivers should always be fully aware of their surroundings, remain focused solely on driving and avoid all types of distractions. A distraction is anything that directs your attention away from something else. Distracted driving occurs when a driver is attempting to do one or more other tasks in addition to driving and their attention becomes divided.
Distracted driving claims the lives of thousands of people each year. Distracted Driving can occur when you take your mind off driving, take your hands off the wheel, or take your eyes off the road. Personal grooming, eating, trying to find the perfect radio station or reading a text message are all common driving distractions that should be avoided.
Multitasking is a myth, and leads to a dangerous condition called Inattention Blindness.
Inattention Blindness occurs when a driver fails to notice a visible hazard because their attention is focused on something else. When multitasking, the driver’s brain is switching back and forth between driving and the distraction, which can lead to slow reaction time and can cause a collision.
Avoid any of these distractions while driving:
NEVER drive and use your phone at the same time.
Drivers on cell phones, even using the hands-free features, see just a fraction of their driving environment because their attention is being divided between the road and the conversation.
Hands-Free is not Risk-Free. Drivers looking out the windshield can miss seeing up to 50% of what’s around them when using the hands-free functionality with their cell phone.
Use your cell phone only when you are safely parked.
Don’t look at your phone at red stop lights either!
Emergency, fire, police personnel and their vehicles can cause a distraction while driving. Pull over into another lane, further away, if possible, when coming up on emergency vehicles that are pulled onto the shoulder or side of a street/highway.
Accident scenes create distraction. Avoid staring at an accident scene when passing by on the roadway. Use caution when passing the accident scene but do not look back or beside you for too long as this takes your eyes off the road in front of you and could cause another accident!
When driving through a construction work zone, slow down and pay attention. There may be a flagger directing traffic and/or construction workers near the flow of traffic.
While on worksites, many things including equipment, materials, and other employees may be present. Ensure both hands are always on your steering wheel and you remain distraction-free while driving. ALWAYS stay fully aware of your surroundings.
Here’s how to prepare for a distraction-free drive:
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