Distractions are everywhere. If you’re not careful, they can get you into a car accident. In fact, distracted driving is among the top causes of car crashes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nine people in the U.S. are killed every day in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. That’s roughly 3,000 people every year.
In the U.S., distracted driving killed 3,142 people in 2020.
To avoid getting distracted while driving, here are seven things you can do:
- Put your phone away
Cell phones are the number one driving distraction, especially among younger generations. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), they cause one in four accidents in the U.S.
That’s why texting or calling is against the law in many states (if you get into a car accident, consult a reputable car accident lawyer to help you navigate the complex legal system).
To avoid the temptation of reaching for your phone while driving, put it on silent or airplane mode. Better yet, put the phone in the glove compartment or in the backseat or use an app to block calls and texts and send an automated reply that you’re currently driving.
Ultimately, you should only be using your phone in emergencies, and even then, you should try to pull over first.
The same goes for checking your social media, email, and other apps on your phone.
- Cue your playlist, podcast, or audiobook before you start driving
Listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks while driving can be a great way to enjoy your ride as long as they’re not too distracting. Even then, you should make sure to cue them before you start. Fiddling with your audio while driving is a recipe for disaster. If you can’t listen without pressing buttons on your phone, just listen to the radio instead.
- Pull over if you get tired
Drowsy driving is another type of driving distraction. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon. Many have fallen asleep behind the wheel. In 2020, there were 633 deaths related to drowsy driving.
If you find it hard to keep your eyes open, pull over and take a nap. Driving drowsy simply isn’t worth the risk.
- Limit the number of passengers in your car
This may sound extreme, but you may want to limit the number of passengers in your car, especially if you’re a new driver.
Why? Because passengers can be a source of distraction if they tend to be active and want to make conversation with you.
By limiting your passengers, you give yourself more room to focus on the road.
- Eat at home
When you’re busy or running late to work, you may not have enough time to eat (e.g. breakfast). Though it can be tempting, in this situation, eating on the go to save time is a bad idea.
Eating (or drinking for that matter) can be a major distraction while driving. You might accidentally spill and then instinctively try to clean up the mess. This is extremely dangerous. Even a split-second distraction can make the difference between getting in an accident and not getting in one.
So try to eat your meals at home as much as possible. If you absolutely must eat, pull over to do it.
- Don’t drive with pets
If you own a pet, you may want to travel with them. But pets can be even more distracting than passengers sometimes.
If you must bring your pet, use a harness, crate, or pet car seat to keep them stationary and secure. Driving with them unsecured isn’t safe for you or them. Make sure to place them in the backseat as well so they don’t obstruct your peripheral vision.
- Avoid using voice commands and hands-free communication
Lastly, avoid using voice assistants like Siri or Alexa and hands-free headsets. Though using these is better than operating a device with your hands, they can still be distracting.
If your mind is too involved in making voice commands or talking to someone on a headset, you might miss important visual and audio cues while driving.
The bottom line
At the end of the day, getting distracted while driving is something you must actively fight against. Not only can distractions lead to an accident that results in injury or death, but they can also make your car insurance rate go up.
So avoid multitasking and focus on the task at hand. You’ll be glad you did.