Distracted Driving Can Be Deadly. Here Are Some Tips to Help Stay Focused Behind the Wheel.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness month. LMC wants to shed light on a prominent problem on the roads as April approaches. According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is attributed to an average of more than 3,000 deaths per year since 2017. It is also the cause of countless non-fatal crashes and other accidents, not to mention “near misses” that happen every day.

 There are numerous ways in which a driver can get distracted, and it comes as no surprise that texting leads that list. NHSTA research indicates that individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 have been observed more often using handheld devices while driving, but make no mistake, it’s not just young people who get distracted. There is no need to text or go on Facebook while cruising around — it can always wait!

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from driving. While taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel present obvious risks, activities that take a driver's mind away from driving are just as risky. Texting is the leading cause of all distracted driving cases. If sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for around 5 seconds, at 55 mph that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. While in the moment it may not seem like a big deal or a long period of time, it greatly reduces your ability to react to the situation on the road and could cost multiple lives.

Driving instructors estimate that a driver makes an average of 200 decisions during every mile they drive. This leaves no room for multi-tasking. Drivers who are distracted fail to recognize potential hazards in the road and react more slowly to traffic conditions, decreasing their margin of safety.

Tips to manage potential distractions:

• Pre-set the climate control, radio, Bluetooth player, and/or GPS before putting the car in drive.

• Adjust the mirrors and identify all needed controls such as wipers, lights, wiper fluid, etc. before you drive.
• Plan your route and leave a little earlier than you need to; it will help you to arrive at your destination safely and less stressed.
• Allow voicemail to handle incoming calls and put your phone away to where you can only grab it if you really need it for an emergency.
• Pull off the road to make calls. If you must make a call, use a hands-free option.
• Postpone complex or emotional conversations on the phone or with passengers until you arrive at your destination.
• Constantly search the roadway ahead for situations that could require you to take quick action.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases the risk of an accident.

Submitted by: Michael Neff, Loss Control Consultant

Resources:

LMCIT has an agreement with CoastalFlix to offer free interactive e-learning courses along with instructor’s handouts for our members. Among these FREE e-learning courses are several that address distracted driving: Coastal Training | Official Site | SafetyTraining Videos (coastalflix.com)

Bankrate Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted Driving Awareness Month -National Safety Council (nsc.org)
Distracted Driving (Cellphone Use) -Safety Talk Ideas
The myth behind multitasking - DistractedDriving FAQ - Bing video