DISTRACTED DRIVING

 

10 Tips For Managing Driver Distractions


Distracted drivers pose a deadly risk to everyone on the road.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that in 2008, the most recent year for which data is available, 5,870 people lost their lives and another 515,000 were injured in police-reported crashes in which one form of distraction was noted on the crash report.

Here are 10 tips for managing some of the most common distractions.

  1. Turn it off.  Turn your phone off or switch to silent mode before you get in the car.

  2. Spread the word.  Set up a special message to tell callers that you are driving and you’ll                      get back to them as soon as possible, or sign up for a service that offers this.

  3. Pull over.  If you need to make a call, pull over to a safe area first.

  4. Use your passengers.  Ask a passenger to make the call for you.

  5. X the Text.  Don’t ever text and drive, surf the web or read your e-mail while driving.  It is          dangerous and against the law in most states.

  6. Know the law.  Familiarize yourself with state and local laws before you get in the car.  The                 Governors Highway Safety Association GHSA offers a handy chart of state laws on its                          website: www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html.

  7. Prepare.  Review maps and directions before you start to drive.  If you need help when you                 are on the road, ask a passenger to help or pull over to a safe location to review the                    map/directions again

  8. Secure your pets.  Pets can be a big distraction in the car.  Always secure your pets properly
    before you start to drive.

  9. Keep the kids safe.  Pull over to a safe location to address situations with your children in the car.

  10. Focus on the task at hand.  Refrain from smoking, eating, drinking, reading and any other activity that takes your mind and eyes off the road.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is leading the effort to end the dangerous practice of distracted driving on our nation’s roadways.  To learn more about what you can do to prevent this serious, life-threatening practice, visit www.distraction.gov and stay abreast of the latest updates and information.

 

HEAR THE STORIES.  GET THE MESSAGE.
See “The Faces of Distracted Driving” by visiting
www.distraction.gov/faces/index.html

 

If you have a distracted driving story to share, e-mail faces@distraction.gov.
Article Taken from, Governors Highway Safety Association, www.ghsa.org