Distracted driving is not only a serious legal offence, it’s also incredibly dangerous. Despite this, not that many people are aware of how distracted driving comes about or how to avoid it. The following will explore a few of the things you can do to help you avoid getting distracted while on the road. Of course, every person is different, and this means that there might be some things you find distracting that aren’t on this list.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving kills thousands of people each year; it involves operating a motor vehicle while not devoting your entire attention to the road and the process of driving. Distractions may be visual, as in, they cause you to look away from the road like a map, text message, or absurdly large animal in the field beside the road. Or they might be emotional; something like: you’ve just had the worst day of your life, and you’re exhausted and can’t focus because you’re playing the scene over and over again in your head. Anything that draws your focus from the road and the things you need to be monitoring while driving (speedometer, vehicles around you, street signs, etc.) counts as a distraction.
What To Do If Someone Else Is Distracted Driving?
Foremost, if you’re in the vehicle with someone who is distracted driving, you can offer to handle whatever task they’re dealing with (if coffee spilled, for instance, you could say: I’ll handle this, you focus on driving). Or you can insist that they focus or pull over and let you out. It’s not safe to be in the vehicle with someone who is driving distractedly.
Secondly, if you’re in one vehicle and you suspect another vehicle’s driver of distracted driving, put as much space between you and the other car as is safe and pull over or turn off when it is safe to do so. You can report the driving to the authorities.
Thirdly, if you’ve been in an accident with someone you suspect was driving distractedly, you will likely need to contact an attorney who can help you present the case. Look for someone who specializes in the type of accident that occurred and practices in the state where the accident occurred. This means, if the collision happened in South Carolina, you might search for: South Carolina auto accident attorney. Every type of law is different and requires years of practice to master. Furthermore, each state has different laws, and even in situations where the law is the same, the interpretation of the law can vary.
Make Passenger Expectations Clear
If other people are going to be in the vehicle with you while you’re driving, it’s a good idea to make your expectations of them clear. Jumping, shouting, playing, and climbing between seats are just a few of the things you might want to keep off-limits.
Keep Your Cellphone Off
One of the easiest ways to avoid distracted driving is to turn off your cell phone while you’re driving. If you must leave it on, turn the volume all the way off and put it somewhere you can’t see the light from notifications. Notifications are designed to be as addictive as possible, meaning that your brain releases a little jolt of dopamine every time you get a message, like, follow, or comment. It is hard to ignore the mental reward when it’s sitting right in front of you, so remove the temptation and keep your phone off or stored where you can’t access it while driving.
Be Honest With Yourself If You’re Sleepy
Being too tired to drive can count as distracted driving. You’re not able to focus if you’ve not had enough sleep and are more likely to have your attention drawn away from the road. Avoid this problem altogether by being honest with yourself when you’re too tired to drive safely.
Stop The Car To Eat
Yes. Eating and drinking can also contribute to distracted driving. Instead of eating while on the road, find a safe place to park and eat then. Both of your hands need to be free, so you can drive properly and adequately react to any road surprises that might occur. If your hands are occupied, you might not be able to turn the wheel as you need to to avoid an accident up ahead, or you might not be able to adjust the clutch as needed the moment it’s needed.
The above tips are only an introduction to distracted driving. It’s a good idea to pay attention to what calls your focus away from the road while you’re driving and seek out ways to remove these distractions so that you can stay alert and responsive while on the road.