3 ways to prevent distracted driving

On Behalf of | Dec 21, 2022 | catastrophic injuries

The news is always reporting disasters, phones are chiming with notifications, accidents are happening all around you and there seems to be an unending amount of work to be done. It’s not easy staying focused with so many distractions. And, there’s possibly no worse place to be distracted than while driving.

Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of vehicle accidents and is largely a growing concern among drivers. While it may be hard to keep away from modern distractions it’s not impossible. Here’s what you should know next time you’re driving:

#1. Don’t text and drive

Nearly everyone has a phone at hand or within reach. One call, text or notification and everyone’s immediate attention is right on their phone. It almost feels like it’s impossible to get away from your phone with so much going on, but, you may need to since it’s one of the biggest contenders for distracted driving.

If you’re taking your phone in the car with you, you could try turning off your phone, silencing its sound or putting it in “do not disturb” mode. This way, you’ll be less inclined to look at your phone when driving. But, if you’re really struggling but need to take your phone with you, then you may consider placing it in your glove box or in the back seat where you can’t easily reach it.

#2. Keep pets and children seated

You know just as much as anyone else how distracting pets and children can be. While there’s not much you can do to prevent a rambunctious child or pet from making noise in your car, you could, at the very least, make sure they’re strapped into their seat. For pets, you may need to get a special harness to ensure they’re seated because seatbelts aren’t made with pets in mind.

#3. Don’t eat or drink

You’re likely not far from a few dozen fast-food restaurants. One of the biggest selling factors for fast food is that you can easily get a meal by going through the drive-thru. While that may entice you to grab a quick meal, you may want to reconsider driving while you eat.

Spilling a drink, getting grease on your hand or just unwrapping your meal while you eat can easily cause a distraction. Instead, you can consider parking your car someplace safe while you eat.

You can do everything in your power to prevent a distracted driving accident, but that doesn’t mean others are. If you’re in a collision, then you may need to know your legal option when seeking compensation for your injuries and losses.