How to Avoid Distracted Driving

It isn't uncommon for drivers to eat, send a text message or daydream while their vehicles are in motion. However, driving while distracted can significantly increase your risk of getting into an accident. Therefore, it is important that you develop strategies that can help you keep your focus solely on the road.

Don't Eat in the Car

Eating in the car may seem like a great way to save time in the morning. However, it is generally a better idea to eat breakfast at home before you leave for work. Alternatively, you can have that breakfast sandwich at your desk after you arrive at the office. According to Decide to Drive, when you eat in the car, you take your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road. There is also the risk of spilling your food or staining your clothes or your vehicle's interior, which can further distract you while your car is moving.

Put the Phone Away

Cellphone use is one of the most prevalent forms of distracted driving in the United States. However, according to Schnipper Law, you can download applications that prevent you from texting while driving to curb distracted behavior. This can be a good idea if you need your phone to get directions to a work meeting or an event in a new city. If you do use your phone as a navigation device, be sure to put it in a holder. Doing so may minimize the chance that it falls on the floor or that you have to look away from the road to see the screen. If you don't need your phone for anything, put it in your purse, in the glove box, in the trunk, or in the backseat where you cannot see or reach it.

Ignore Your Passengers

If it's feasible to do so, drive without any passengers. According to Aceable, this allows you to focus on road conditions instead of your friend who wants to talk about topics that may distract you. If you have to drive with children in the car, be sure that they have a book or toy to keep them entertained. This will help you to not get distracted by any fighting children or children who are disruptive because they are bored.

When you drive, it is critical that your focus is on the road and nothing else. This is true whether you are driving across the state for a job interview or across the street to the grocery store. Doing this will help both you and other drivers to stay the safest while driving on the road.

In case you do get into an accident, you’ll want to have good car insurance. Contact us today for a quote!