6 Tips To Help You Avoid Being Distracted While Driving
Driving is an act that needs the driver’s one hundred percent attention. Slight errors can lead to serious consequences such as a Michigan car accident, so the driver’s full focus is required.
One of the things to avoid is distracted driving. This concept refers to the presence of factors that can distract the driver from focusing on the road. These factors take away from the driver’s focus. It leads to small mishaps escalating further and leading to accidents, injuries, and more.
The Effects of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. A study shows that 25% of all motor accident deaths involve distracted driving. Some of the most severe consequences of distracted driving lead to crashes. These can further escalate into other issues and effects. Some of these are the following:
- Physical injuries: Physical injuries are the most common effects of distracted driving accidents. These can range from light cuts, bruises, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, to life-threatening conditions.
- Permanent damage: The more serious car crashes can lead to permanent damage in victims. Some of them are paraplegia, quadriplegia, and blindness, among others.
- Psychological injuries: The psychological trauma that comes from accidents can lead to mental and emotional problems. Problems like PTSD, depression, and the like can result from these.
- Unnecessary expenses: Injuries, both physical and psychological, need to be treated. Treatment is usually expensive.
- Death: The worst cases of distracted driving can lead to accidents that cause death. As we have stated earlier, 25% of all motor accident deaths involve a distracted driver.
Knowing all these, it becomes even more critical to void any distractions while driving. Avoiding factors that can take away from the driver’s focus can lead to better road safety.
6 Tips to Help You Avoid Distracted Driving
The best way to prevent distracted driving accidents is by avoiding distractions themselves. Doing these can make roads safer for you, your family, and everyone else. Here are 6 tips to help you avoid distracted driving:
- Keep your phone and other similar devices away.
Smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices are great for entertainment when we’re bored. However, these things have no business with drivers that are on the road. These devices provide distractions that are enough to cause a significant increase in the number of vehicular accidents.
Make sure that you keep all phones and devices away from you when you drive. Even better, turn them off before you leave and turn them back on when you arrive. It can help you resist the temptation of using your phone.
- Link your phone to your car speakers, and use it only when necessary.
If you really need to be connected while on the road, link your phone to your car speakers. Some phones have features that you can use to control them remotely. You will be able to talk to people through your car speakers but only do so when necessary. That’s because talking to someone is also a form of distraction.
- Limit the number of passengers.
Jam-packed cars can be somewhat distracting for the driver. The amount of activity and noise inside the vehicle can prove to be a significant source of distraction. Try to avoid this by limiting the number of passengers in your car when you drive.
- Avoid doing other activities or multitasking while driving.
Many of us choose to do some of our morning activities inside the car or eat while driving especially when pressed for time. Try to avoid doing other activities when driving. Try to keep your focus on the road.
- Keep a cool head and keep your eyes on the road.
Whatever may happen, try to keep a cool head and try not to get rattled. These things can provide you with distractions that can get in the way of proper driving.
- Pull over when absolutely necessary.
If you really need to take a call or text someone, pull over. It’s a lot better than risking your safety by using your phone while you drive.
Were You Involved in a Distracted Driving Incident?
Do you have reason to believe that the cause of the accident was distracted driving? If you or anyone you know sustained injuries because of the incident, then you may have a claim. Treating injuries caused by motor accidents can be rather expensive. Fortunately, your claim can help pay for that.
Need legal help after a car crash in Lansing? Our team has some of the most experienced Michigan accident lawyers in Okemos. Call us at +1 (517) 347-6900 for more information.
