Don't Drive Distracted. Drive Aware. Arrive Safe.

Apr 20, 2023, 12:59 PM

 

We’ve all seen the billboards about not texting and driving, and studied the lesson in our drivers’ education courses. However, while we’ve all heard of the dangers of texting and driving, distracted driving goes so much further than just texting. Since April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month, we compiled some helpful resources to help you stop accidents before they happen.

Why is this such an important topic? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving killed 3,522 in 2021. They define distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention from driving.” These activities vary in range, and include texting, talking on the phone, talking to others in your vehicle, eating, changing the radio station, and much more.

We spoke with our Loss Control expert, Kirby Wilmore, about the importance of maintaining awareness, this month and every month. Mr. Wilmore agrees with the NHTSA - that lesser-known distractions are just as dangerous as texting.
He states “[c]ell phone use aside, drivers engage in many other behaviors that can cause distraction at a key time and where drivers can become complacent – until the accident occurs."  We are all guilty of habits that are second nature, so creating an awareness of them is crucial. "These include looking around and not on the road, drinking or eating, adjusting controls or radios, or fatigue.” Fatigue is an exceptionally dangerous driving condition, that many of us don’t consider, when we think about distractions - you can check out our hints on helping avoid fatigued driving.

Mr. Wilmore also answered other questions to help combat distracted driving:

1. What are some facts people should know about distracted driving? According to the National Highway Transportation Association, distracted driving result in over 3,000 deaths and 280,000 injuries a year on average.  Taking your eyes off the road for 5 seconds at 55 mph means that you are driving blindfolded in a heavy vehicle for the length of a football field. Even a few seconds of distracted driving can result in a catastrophic accident; therefore, paying attention at all times is critical.
   
   
2. Why is it so important for people to be aware of their driving habits? Habits are defined as a “settled tendency or usual manner of behavior.”  Most people probably now have the habit to automatically look at our phone when it rings or pings a message when we aren’t driving and this then also becomes the habit when we are driving.  It’s important to work at resisting the urge to look at phones or displays when driving, or avoid other distractions, which builds a positive habit of safe behavior to wait until we are safely parked.
   
   
3. What is the number 1 defense against distracted driving? In addition to developing safe driving habits, like keeping your mind and eyes on the road, it may be preparation. Before starting out, this can include programming GPS destinations, make necessary calls (and then avoiding calls), or securing loose items. Taking just a minute to prepare can eliminate situations in the car where you automatically react and become distracted for a few seconds.
   

From both Wilmore and the NHTSA, we learn that preparation is key. However, there are other steps you can take to combat distracted driving. At the top of the list - lead by example. Parents should not text and drive, and should make sure to avoid other distractions, when driving. This becomes especially important, when a child is in the vehicle.

Making it home safely is always the goal, and the primary reason to drive safely. However, distracted driving infractions have other consequences, as well. For young drivers, while they have their graduated drivers licenses (GDL), a distracted driving infraction could mean a suspension or delay in obtaining their license, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This a great reminder for all drivers – tickets, suspensions, and fines can result at all levels of licensure, due to distracted driving infractions. Be sure to check your local regulations and laws, to ensure you’re compliant. Always play it safe, get to where you need to be, without distractions.

For more resources about distracted driving, please visit our Reduce Distracted Driving page.

Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration page on Distracted Driving Awareness month. You can find more information on distracted driving, on the NHTSA’s Distracted Driving page.

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