What does distracted driving look like?
Your first thought might be a driver with their eyes down on their phone, but it can be so much more. Anything that takes your hands off the wheel, eyes off the road or mind off the task of driving can be a distraction. We can only focus on one thing at a time, so in a sense, distracted driving means choosing something else over driving safely.
That might be choosing to glance from the road, reach into the back seat or focus on our devices; whatever it is, it’s distracted driving. As we wrap up Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April – after a year where NSC estimates show we lost more than 46,000 people in traffic crashes – we can all choose safety over something else.
Here are some NSC resources to help you avoid distractions no matter the situation on the road.
Child Passenger Safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injuries and death throughout childhood. When it comes to child passengers though, remember they are watching you. Model the behavior you want to see in them as new drivers. That includes avoiding distractions; if you drive distracted, it puts both of you in danger and tells your child they can do the same when they’re old enough. For more information, visit cpsboard.org.
Driving for Work
The Our Driving Concern team created free resources for employers to use during Distracted Driving Awareness Month and beyond to educate their employees around the dangers of driving distracted. These resources cover everything from staying focused in parking lots to paying extra attention to young passengers, particularly as the summer months arrive.
Teen Safe Driving
Passengers are an often-overlooked danger, especially for inexperienced teen drivers. Just one friend in the car dramatically increases the risk of a crash, which is why the NSC New Driver Deal includes restrictions on both passengers and distractions. Visit DriveitHOME.org for additional free resources to help keep your new driver safe.
Vehicle Recalls
Safe driving is hard work. You need to buckle your seat belt, adjust the mirrors, check your blind spots, watch for pedestrians and, of course, avoid distractions. When you’re not behind the wheel, you should also look at the fluid levels, tires and brakes, but when was the last time you checked for vehicle safety recalls issued by the manufacturer? Don’t let distractions get in the way of safety. Simply go to CheckToProtect.org and enter your license plate and state. You will receive a quick result and, if there is a recall, you can find an authorized dealer to fix it for free.
We have a choice between focusing on the road or something else every time we drive. Make the choice to save lives by eliminating distraction while driving. To get started, take the NSC Just Drive Pledge to commit to driving distraction-free and visit nsc.org/JustDrive for additional safety materials.
