You probably know that driving while you’re distracted can put you at risk of getting involved in a collision. Whether you’re trying to take a phone call, texting or reading an email, those few seconds looking away from the road can lead to a serious collision.
Distracted driving doesn’t just include texting. It can involve many activities, such as:
- Typing into the GPS system
- Sending voice memos
- Talking on the phone
- Eating
- Drinking
- Talking to people in the vehicle
- Listening to the radio
Though some of these distractions are less serious than others, they can all increase the risk that you’ll be involved in a collision.
How does distracted driving impact drivers?
Drivers who are distracted and reaching for an object have an eight times greater risk of being involved in a crash. Parents are more likely to be distracted than people without children.
Crashes can happen within three seconds of a distraction. That means that looking away at the ground to find a phone that fell on the floor or looking at radio station names may take just long enough for your vehicle to end up in a crash.
What can you do to avoid distractions?
If you want to avoid distractions, plan to avoid them by taking precautions. For example, you should set your radio station before you drive or have presets ready. You can set your phone on silent or have it send automatic messages that say you’re driving.
Overall, the best thing you can do is to focus on the road. If there is something else that comes up and is pressing, pull over. Those few seconds spent in park could be what save your life or the lives of others.
