While most people recognize that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is dangerous, many don’t realize that distracted driving has surpassed drunk driving in accident fatalities. In fact, texting while driving, which is just one of the many forms of distracted driving, is currently the number one cause of death in American teenagers.
Teens may be the most common offenders of distracted driving, but adults aren’t immune to its effects, either. In fact, 10 percent of parents admit to texting while driving conversations, or engaging in similarly distracting activities.
What is Distracted Driving?
It may be the most dangerous and prevalent distraction, but texting isn’t the only interference on the road. Distracted driving can also include any of the following actions:
- Checking social media or using apps on your phone
- Eating or drinking
- Talking on the phone
- Talking to other passengers
- Adjusting or changing music
- GPS navigation
- Grooming, like makeup or checking the mirror
How to Stay Focused on the Road
To ensure the safety of yourself and other drivers on the road, follow these four driving tips for staying focused behind the wheel.
Put your phone in a place you can’t reach it, or put it on silent.
If you’re tempted to check social media, text, or use apps, put your phone in a place you can’t reach, such as the glove compartment, backseat or your purse. If you’re only tempted to text when you hear an incoming message, put your phone on silent and check it at a later time.
Eat before you get in the car.
Even if it’s been a long time since breakfast, eating requires at least one of your hands (and your eyes), all of which should be focused on the task at hand. Solution: don’t drive hungry! Instead, eat at a restaurant or pull over at a gas station to chow down before hitting the road again. Your stomach and other drivers will thank you.
Use hands-free devices.
Sometimes, you just have to take a call or send a text. With all of the latest technology, you can send texts or call someone simply with voice commands. To make sure you’re really keeping them hands-free, make sure and get them set up before you set out for your destination.
Set up your GPS first.
No one expects you to know how to get everywhere without the assistance of a map or GPS, but go ahead and program your GPS before you ever start the car. That way, you’re not typing in an address as you cross a busy intersection. Need to switch routes? Ask a passenger to type in the destination or pull over at a rest stop.
Stay Safe with My Auto Solutions
The team at My Auto Solutions wants you to stay as safe as possible on the road. That’s why we provide quick, quality electronic auto part repairs at a fraction of the dealership price.
We fix climate control issues, ABS modules, airbag modules and so much more. To learn more about our repair services, contact us today at 678-778-8890 or online.