Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), each day in the U.S., approximately nine people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured in crashes involving distracted drivers. Distracted driving can present itself in many forms, but taking your eyes off the road for any reason increases your chances of being in an auto accident. Avoid distracted driving by following these tips from DefensiveDriving.org.

Know where you’re going

If you’re using a GPS to guide you to an unfamiliar location, review the directions first to gain a general idea of where you’re going before you begin to drive. Blindly following the GPS can result in glancing at the screen too often or making unsafe maneuvers to avoid missing a turn.

Put the phone down

While driving, avoid using your phone altogether. Place it on airplane or do not disturb mode to silence notifications and limit distractions. If you do need to make a call from the road, use voice-activated dialing, ask a passenger to make the call or pull off to the side of the road. Even talking on a hands-free device can take your mind off of driving.

Keep your eyes on the road

Adjusting the radio, eating or drinking, smoking, daydreaming and searching for items are all dangerous tasks to do while driving and should be avoided. If there’s something that cannot wait, pull over to the side of the road or wait until you’ve reached your destination, if possible.

Remain focused

When the entire family is in the car, including pets, distractions can be magnified. It’s easy for drivers to divert their attention from the road to calm an upset child or quiet a barking dog. Ask another adult to ride along to help subdue these types of interruptions, or pull over to the side of the road if you’re alone. Remember to always keep pets properly secured in the backseat.