How to Avoid Distracted Driving: 5 Bad Habits to Avoid
How to Avoid Distracted Driving: 5 Bad Habits to Avoid
Distracted driving is among the many things to avoid while driving. There are several different things that can distract you from driving, such as eating, drinking, texting, fidgeting and even getting angry with other drivers. Your safety and the safety of others is very important and we should be considerate of others when driving and try to follow some simple guidelines to avoid distracted driving.
Things to Stop Doing to Avoid Distracted Driving
Texting
Whether you are a teenager or an adult, texting while driving is not safe and certainly qualifies as distracted driving. It is dangerous and there is no other fact to consider. Thousands of motorists are killed every year because of cell phone use while driving. Texting while driving takes the driver’s eyes off the road, distracts the driver and makes it impossible to pay attention to traffic conditions the way you need to to drive safely.
Texting while driving is not only dangerous, it is illegal in most places. Many states have penalties that can result in jail time, especially if you are texting while driving in a work zone or school zone.
You can avoid texting while driving by limiting your phone notifications. This can be done in a variety of ways. One way is to turn the phone off or put it in silent mode. Another way is to stow your phone in the glove compartment. There are settings on your phone that enable you to pause notifications while driving. Look up a video on YouTube to see how to best navigate these settings.
Eating
Eating while driving is a common distraction that can be very distracting. In fact, eating and driving can increase your chances of a crash by an average of 1.57%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Eating while driving can also lead to visual distractions. While digging in your bag of food for a burger, you could miss something very important and find yourself in an accident. If you cannot avoid eating and driving, try to prepare you food for easy-grabbing so that you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.
Drinking Water
We all know how important it is to stay hydrated, but getting the cap off your soda or water can be a difficult task while driving. Taking a drink of your water or coffee before driving can be beneficial if you want to avoid distracted driving.
Getting Upset With Other Drivers
Getting angry or upset with other drivers when driving can be an example of distracted driving and can become a dangerous situation. It’s not worth the aggravation or anxiety caused by an on-the-road altercation. Calm your nerves, listen to a good book, rock out to your favorite song.
One of the best ways to avoid getting angry or upset with other drivers is to remember that everyone is human. Most people do not intentionally make rude mistakes while driving, so we can just all give each other a little grace and try to be more considerate when behind the wheel.
Something to distract you from being emotional or aggressive while driving could be to imagine what the other people on the road might be doing. Maybe they’re on their way to an award ceremony or the way to their wedding. Write that story in your mind while you focus on having a safe journey on the road.
Looking at Passengers While Talking
For some reason, this needs to be said. There are people who understand that you have to look at the road while driving and there are people who simply lose that idea when they get into a conversation. Conversation is great, especially while driving on a long trip, but keep your eyes on the road, buddy!
Bonus Tip!
Another example of distracted driving is a vehicle that isn’t running correctly. At C&H Foreign Auto, we would love to get your import in perfect working order. We can handle alignments, timing belt, transmission, steering issues and more. Give us a call us at 509-487-9683 or stop on by to schedule an inspection.
