What is Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is when a person is not paying direct attention to his or her driving. Several things can distract a driver. He or she may be distracted by a child who is in the back seat, or he or she may be distracted by a car accident that occurred close by. A person may also be distracted by his or her own thoughts or worries. The most common distraction is from a cell phone. Most people have no idea how common distracted driving is, but it can be deadly. Each year, thousands of people are killed in accidents that involve a distracted driver, so you do well to avoid driving while distracted.
Why is Distracted Driving so Common
When it comes to driving while distracted, there has never been a time in history when device distraction has been so common. There are thousands of apps that are designed to hold your attention. These are apps that send out sound notifications when you get a new like or when a person says or does something that might interest you. These apps go off to let you know that there might be a store or restaurant close by that you might like. Your friends text you, call you, or send you voice messages all throughout the day. You feel like you have to know what is going on all of the time, and you are distracted. When you stop to look at your phone for just two seconds, a serious accident could easily occur. Since it is so easy to get distracted while driving, you do well to take steps to avoid driving while distracted. In the following article, different strategies will be addressed; these are strategies that you can take to keep yourself safe while driving.
#1 Turn off Your Phone
If you are a person who habitually checks your phone all of the time, then you may have to go cold turkey. This means that you are going to have to turn off your phone completely to avoid the distraction.
#2 Get a Driving App
There are several apps available that allow you to turn off all messages, notifications, and calls while you are driving. Several phones have a similar option available. While driving, enable the app or allow your phone to detect when you are driving. In that way, you won’t even have to think about it. Generally, the screen will stay black while you are driving, so you won’t even see who is trying to reach you.
#3 Get Your Phone out of Reach
To avoid that reflexive swipe when you get a message on your phone, get your phone out of your reach. It is best to put it in the trunk of your car, or on the floor in your back seat so that you cannot even get it if you wanted to.
#4 Let People Know when You are Driving
If you have been involved in a text conversation before you get in the car, your friend or family member is likely going to keep texting you. Instead of carrying on the conversation while you are driving, why not let the person know that you are about to start driving. You can tell them to please not text you until you get to your destination. They will respect your responsible gesture.
#5 Give Someone Else Your Device
If you are traveling with friends or family and there is an important text message that you are waiting for, why not pass over your phone to your passengers. Give the phone to a responsible person and have them read the text to you. In that way, you won’t have to worry about missing the text.
#6 Use Your Bluetooth
Bluetooth is amazing! If you cannot live without knowing what someone is texting you, all that you have to do is use your Bluetooth. Your Bluetooth can read the messages to you from your phone, and it can also answer the phone for you when it rings. Right when you get into your car, you do well to connect your Bluetooth so that you can answer and listen to all incoming communications without looking at your phone.
#7 Remember the Consequences
If at any time you consider looking at your phone when you are driving, remember the havoc that could come next. There are countless stories about drivers who only looked at their phones for a few seconds and caused horrible accidents. These accidents hurt or even killed innocent people. There are distracted driving lawyers who are dedicated to helping these innocent victims. Distracted driving lawyers are professional, and they stop at nothing to get their clients the justice that they deserve. When you realize how dangerous distracted driving is, you will be less likely to look at your phone.
Make the Change
Even though laws in most states prohibit driving with a device, there are still people who do it. Don’t follow the inconsiderate crowd. There is really no message that can merit putting your life or someone else’s life in danger. When you drive, you are behind the wheel of a dangerous weapon. Car accidents kill tens of thousands of people each year. Since that is the case, you have to take your driving more seriously. Being a responsible driver means driving defensively and paying constant attention to the road. Only in that way will you keep yourself and others safe.