April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. During this month, it is important to review and understand the distractions that cause accidents and how to prevent them. Many distractions exist while driving, but cell phones are a top distraction because so many drivers use them for long periods of time each day. Almost everyone has seen a driver distracted by a cell phone, but when you are the one distracted, you often don’t realize that driver is you.
Multitasking is a Myth
Driving and cell phone conversations both require a great deal of thought. When doing them at the same time, your brain is unable to do either of them well. For example, it’s nearly impossible to read a book and have a phone conversation. This is the same situation that occurs when driving and having a cell phone conversation. This often results in crashes due to delayed braking times and not seeing traffic signals. Even when talking hands-free, drivers can miss seeing up to half of what’s around them because they are engaged in a cell phone conversation. You are four times as likely to crash when using a cell phone while driving.
Tips for Reducing Distracted Driving
- Schedule calls for times when you will not be driving.
- Plan your workday with regular breaks when you can make calls and send texts or emails, so you aren’t tempted to do so behind the wheel.
- If you need to check something behind the wheel, always pull over safely first – for professional drivers, this includes dispatching devices and mobile data terminals.
- Set your phone to Do Not Disturb or silence your notifications and store the phone in the glove box to avoid distractions.
Distracted driving isn’t just a danger to you, it puts everyone around you at risk, including other drivers, pedestrians, road workers, and first responders. Drive responsibly, which means without distractions.
