How to Avoid Distractions While Driving
Distractions while driving can be deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,142 people were killed in 2020 as a result of distracted driving and even more were injured.
In order to help keep yourself and others safe on the road, it is important to learn how to avoid distractions while driving. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common distractions and how to avoid them.
- Put your phone away
We’ve all been there- you’re driving along and you hear a notification from your phone. Before you know it, you’re trying to juggle the phone and the steering wheel, and you’re no longer paying attention to the road. It’s easy to understand how phone use can be distracting, but what you may not realize is how dangerous it can be.
Every year, thousands of accidents are caused by drivers who are distracted by their phones, and if you are ever one of them, make sure to visit JT Legal Group.
However, there is an easy way to eliminate this risk: put your phone away while you drive. By keeping your phone out of reach, you can ensure that you won’t be tempted to look at it while you’re behind the wheel. In addition, consider putting your phone on silent or vibrate so that you won’t be interrupted by notifications.
Alternatively, you can use a hands free Bluetooth device which allows you to accept calls and send text messages while keeping both hands on the wheel.
- Don’t eat while driving
When you’re driving, it’s important to pay attention to the road and avoid distractions. One of the most common distractions is eating while driving. It’s easy to do, especially if you’re running late or getting hungry. However, eating while driving is dangerous and can increase your risk of having an accident.
Here’s why: when you’re eating, your hands are occupied and you’re not able to keep them on the wheel. Your eyes are also focused on your food, not on the road. And if you spill something, you’ll be distracted as you try to clean it up.
So it’s best to avoid eating while driving altogether. If you need to eat, pull over to a rest stop or park in a safe location first. Then you can enjoy your meal without putting yourself or others at risk.
- Avoid turning your head to talk to passengers
One of the most common distractions for drivers is talking to passengers. When you turn your head to talk to someone in the passenger seat, you take your eyes off the road and your mind off of driving.
But there’s an easy way to avoid this distraction: simply don’t turn your head while you’re talking. Instead, keep your eyes on the road and focus on your driving, and only turn your head when it’s absolutely necessary.
It might feel a little weird at first, but you’ll get used to your new safe-driving habit in no time!
- Keep your car clean and organized
As anyone who has ever driven in rush hour traffic knows, distractions can be a big problem when behind the wheel. Even a brief moment of distraction can cause an accident, so it’s important to do everything you can to stay focused on the road.
One underrated way to eliminate distractions is to keep your car clean and organized. Having a tidy interior reduces the temptation to fiddle with things while driving, and it also makes it easier to find anything you need without taking your eyes off the road.
Keeping your car organized also helps you to avoid distracted driving by making it easier to stay focused on the task at hand.
- Tune the radio to a station you like
We’ve all been there. You’re driving along, minding your own business, when suddenly a song comes on the radio that you can’t stand. Or maybe it’s a commercial that’s just too annoying to ignore. Before you know it, you’re so focused on changing the station that you’re not paying attention to the road.
Tuning the radio to a station you like before you start driving can help eliminate these distractions and allow you to focus on the task at hand. Instead of searching for a new station every time a song comes on that you don’t like, you can just sit back and relax, knowing that you’re already tuned into something you enjoy.
Conclusion
Driving can be dangerous, but there are a few simple things you can do to reduce your risk of having an accident. Avoiding distractions is key, so try to eat before you get in the car, keep your car clean and organized, and tune the radio to a station you like. By following these tips, you’ll be able to stay safe on the road and arrive at your destination without incident.
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