How to Avoid Distracted Driving

Checking your phone, eating a snack, or making eye contact with a friend in the rearview mirror—while these actions seem quick and harmless, an accident only takes seconds to happen. Put simply, reading a text while driving at 55 mph is like driving blind for the length of a football field. Distracted driving is any non-driving activity that takes your attention off the road, increasing the chances of being involved in an accident. In fact, according to the NHTSA, distracted driving is the leading cause of all vehicle accidents.  It’s responsible for almost 80% of crashes and accounts for nine deaths per day in the United States (per the CDC).

Distracted driving is dangerous, and many states have made certain distracting activities illegal. In 2010, Kentucky passed a bill banning drivers of all ages from texting while their vehicle is in motion.

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How to Protect Yourself from Distracted Drivers

What can you do if you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a distracted driver in the Louisville area? Once you are safe and have received medical treatment for any possible injuries, it’s crucial to find an experienced Louisville auto accident lawyer who can help you recover maximum damages.

To keep yourself from getting distracted while driving, there are simple actions you can take. Here’s a list of the most common types of distractions and how to avoid them.

Understanding the Types of Driving Distractions

Before discussing the most common distractions, it’s essential to understand the four main categories of driving distractions:

• Visual Distractions: anything that takes your eyes off the road, even for a split second.
• Manual Distractions: anything that takes one or both hands off the steering wheel.
• Cognitive Distractions: anything that takes your mind off of driving.
• Emotional Distractions: anything that causes emotional distress while driving.

Not surprisingly, the most common distractions while driving today involve cell phones. These include texting, making phone calls, searching on Google, and checking social media.

Texting is the most common and dangerous distraction because it takes your eyes, hands, and mind off driving. The National Safety Council found that texting while driving is responsible for one out of every four car accidents in the United States, which is six times the rate of driving while under the influence.

Tips for Avoiding Distracted Driving

When you’re in a hurry or running late, you are more likely to get distracted and/or make hasty decisions. The best way to avoid needing an auto accident lawyer in Louisville is to take time to prepare for your trip and complete other tasks before getting on the road.

Here are some simple tips to prevent distractions:

Plan Your Route

If you don’t know exactly where you’re headed, set up and review the route on your GPS and enable the voice feature before departure. This will eliminate the need to look at your navigation system at every turn. If you need more help, ask a passenger to navigate for you.

Limit Passenger Interactions

Passenger distractions are often hard to control, so limit the number of passengers in your vehicle if possible. This is especially important for new drivers and teenagers who usually drive with friends. Children, infants, and pets can also be distracting, so make sure they are safe and secure in their seats and occupied. Be sure to make frequent stops for them to use the bathroom, stretch, and get some exercise.

In return, able passengers can help keep others busy, politely remind the driver to pay attention, and redirect them when they are distracted.

Keep Your Hands on the Wheel

Keeping both hands on the wheel is essential for reacting quickly in an emergency. That means refraining from doing anything that requires a free hand, such as eating, smoking, grooming, reaching for loose items, or controlling devices. Instead of searching for a song on your device, create a playlist beforehand or settle for the radio. Opt for a hands-free device if you need to make or take a call. Or better yet, pull over.

Avoid Using Your Phone While Driving

This point can never be emphasized enough. The best policy regarding phone use is to turn it off and put it away until you’ve reached your destination. If that is impossible, avoid temptation by disabling notifications or getting an app that blocks incoming calls and messages. A list of distracted driving apps can be found on the DMV.org website.

Focus On the Task of Driving

Have you ever arrived at your destination but can’t remember how you got there? Even when your eyes are focused on the road, it’s easy for your mind to wander. In addition, emotions can cloud your judgment, so managing stress while driving is important. Be sure to take breaks when you need to and pull over to a safe place if you feel sleepy or unable to concentrate.

Contact a Louisville Injury Lawyer

While multitasking while driving may seem convenient or efficient, it’s never worth risking lives. We cannot control what other drivers do, and accidents still happen.

Here at Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers, we are the auto accident lawyers Louisville residents can count on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No matter what, we’ll have your back.

If you’ve had an auto accident in or around Louisville, contact Sam Aguiar Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today!