Did you know that distracted driving actually kills people?
Even with national events like Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and large organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) spreading the word, the numbers keep rising. In fact, the NHTSA attributed 3,142 fatalities to this phenomenon in 2019.
What IS distracted driving?
In order to prevent distracted driving from happening, all drivers should have a good understanding of exactly what the term means. While many people think it’s just talking on a cell phone while driving, it goes far beyond that.
There are 3 types of driving distractions:
- Visual: Just as the name implies, this has to do with sight. Taking your eyes off the road for anythingconstitutes a visual distraction. Examples include gazing at the scenery, glancing at a text message, or looking in your mirror at a child in the back seat.
- Manual: Here, you may keep your eyes on the road but your hands are busy with some non-driving task. Things like reaching for your water bottle, rummaging around in your purse to find something, or passing food to another passenger can all be included in this category.
- Cognitive: Have you ever driven all the way home from work only to wonder how you got there? If so, you’ve experienced cognitive distractions. Maybe you’re caught up in what happened at work or what you’re going to make for supper. Either way, your mind is taken away from driving.
How to prevent distracted driving
Anything you can do to keep your eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel, and mind fully engaged can help improve driving safety. Here are a few ways to prevent driving distractions:
- Keep your phone out of reach and out of sight. If you can’t see or hear it, you won’t be tempted to check text messages or use it for phone calls.
- Text or call before you drive. If you need to let someone know you’re on your way, do it before you even get in your car.
- Do pre-driving checks. Is the radio set to the station you like? Eat your meal and take a drink before driving. Set the car’s thermostat to a comfortable level. Having all these things done ahead of time can keep your eyes, hands, and mind where they should be while you drive.
- Get plenty of sleep. Driving while tired can be dangerous and cause you to lose focus. If you become tired while driving, stop in a safe place to take a rest.
- Stop for directions. Looking at the map or calling someone for directions while driving can be a serious distraction. If this is needed to get you where you want to go, pull over and get your bearings rather than trying to do it on the move.
Regular vehicle maintenance helps, too.
Distracted driving includes all of the above, but it can also include issues with your vehicle. For example, if your brakes or tires aren’t in the best condition, you have physical things that could impact driving safety. But, these things, and dashboard warnings like a check engine light, can also weigh heavy on your mind and keep you from being focused.
The best solution here is to bring your vehicle to our shop for regular preventative maintenance. We’re happy to repair what needs fixing, but we also do a thorough multi-point inspection to help catch potential problems early.
When you trust your vehicle’s care to our professional mechanics and staff, you can rest easy knowing it’s in good hands. And, then you can be free to drive without distractions! Simply give us a call or schedule an appointment online today.
