Pay Attention, April is "Distracted Driving Awareness Month"
This month has been designated “Distracted Driving Awareness Month”. Being the focus of one month or just 8.5% of a year does not adequately emphasize the size of the problem. You need to just STOP texting, talking on the phone, fixing your makeup, eating a sandwich and and and and……Focus on the task at hand; driving safely.
The number of serious automobile accidents that have quantifiably been the direct result of distracted driving are staggering. The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center completed a study titled, The Role of Driver Distraction in Traffic Crashes, and found that an estimated 284,000 distracted drivers are involved in serious vehicle accidents. That’s 284,000 plus families that have been involved in accidents that were very likely avoidable.
Wouldn’t you feel stupid if you hurt someone or became crippled because of something you could avoid?
Below is a list of contributing factors in Distracted Driving related accidents:
• Distractions outside the vehicle.
• Talking or listening on cell phone.
• Adjusting radio or CD player.
• Other occupants.
• Adjusting climate controls.
• Moving object in vehicle.
• Eating or drinking.
• Smoking.
As I look over that list I can come up with specific examples of how to avoid the risk of each area. However, my simple advice is to:
- Prepare your vehicle for comfortable and safe operation before you start moving.
- Take the time to understand your vehicles features before you start moving.
- Stop, yes, Stop the vehicle in a safe place and then address distractions if they arise.
- If you need to eat in your vehicle do it while the vehicle is stopped in a safe place.
- Smoking….I’m all for your freedom to light up, but seriously if you can’t multi-task don’t drive.
More than 80% of the nation’s 94 million cell phone owners use them while driving — at least sometimes. Many states have legislation to regulate cell phone use while driving. At least 13 nations, including England, Germany and Japan, have banned the use of cell phones when driving a vehicle.
As an insurance agent we have resources to help you communicate the dangers of Distracted Driving to your family and co-workers. Please follow the below link to contact us to see if we can help you with your auto insurance:
Personal Auto Insurance: /coverage/auto-insurance/
Business Auto Insurance: /coverage/commercial-vehicle-insurance/
Stay tuned for a future blog on Business exposure to cell phone usage and how you are potentially liable.
