Driving Distractions

Driving can be a delightful experience, but it can be a terrifying one as well. Distractions, a major cause of car crashes, can be a disastrous experience for drivers who do not focus on the needs of safety, as well as for passengers, pedestrians, and people in other vehicles.

According to the Response Insurance National Driving Habits Surveys, distractions can come in many forms. You can reduce the likelihood of becoming a driving disaster statistic if you become aware of these dangers and engage in safe driving practices. Among the main distractions that compete with safe driving are:

• Cell phones. These are a major cause of car accidents. Looking up phone numbers, dialing the numbers, talking on the cell phone, sending text messages—all while driving—encourage distractions and increase risks to safety. Before you start driving, leave a message on your cell phone indicating that you are driving and will return the call as soon as you can pull off the road and stop the car in a safe place.
• Eating. If you decide to eat in your car, move to a rest area where you can park. Otherwise, you may be forced to drive with one hand, and take your eyes off the road as you unpack your food or look for the appropriate utensils. Moreover, dropped objects and spills can result in erratic driving.
• Drinking alcohol. Never drink alcohol before or during driving.
• Attending to children. Make sure that accompanying children wear seat belts before you begin to travel. Give them books, puzzles, and games to occupy their attention while you drive.
• Distractions with passengers in your car. Rowdy, noisy, and boisterous behavior among the driver and passengers may be harmful to all of them. Try to keep the noise level down when engaging in conversations.
• Turning dials. Turning dials on a radio, navigation system, or temperature gauge while you are driving may serve as distractions. Try setting these dials before you drive, or alternatively, make these changes in an area where your car can be at rest.
• Loose pets. Having a pet rambling around your car and trying to sit on your lap creates safety risks that would not occur if the animal is in a portable carrier or similar restraint.
• Adjusting vehicle or climate controls. Conduct this effort before you begin your journey.
• Observing surroundings. Beautiful scenery, imaginative billboards, historical structures, and other sites deserve attention, but observing them should not be distractions from driving. Make stops in appropriate areas so that you can appreciate them fully.
• Keeping up appearances. If you need to deal with facial appearance, such as combing hair, shaving, or applying makeup, do so at an appropriate rest stop and not while driving.
• Smoking. Accidents can easily happen when smoking. The use of matches, lighters and fallen ashes can easily serve as distractions.
• Location information. Don’t read maps while you are driving. If you have a passenger, ask him or her to be the navigator and guide you to your destination. If you are alone, look at your map before you start out on your journey, or pull off the road safely to do so.