The Dangers of Distracted Driving Checking That Text Isn’t Worth It There’s no doubt about it; distracted driving is a serious problem, threatening everyone on the road. In America, nine people are killed every day in crashes involving a distracted driver according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thousands of car accidents occur every day due to distracted driving. Yet, many of us continue to engage in distracted behaviors behind the wheel, such as texting, talking on the phone, or eating. You might think that taking your eyes off the road to check your phone isn’t too big of a deal, but we often don’t realize how fast we’re traveling when we do it. Checking your phone for five seconds while driving 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded. Read that again! There are three types of distracted driving: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual driving distractions cause you to take your eyes off the road. Manual distractions force you to remove your hands from the wheel. And cognitive distractions occur when you take your mind off the road. Each of these behaviors is dangerous, but when we combine them, the risk of an accident escalates. Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving as it involves manual, visual, and cognitive distractions. Information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells us that texting while driving increases the risk of an accident by 23%. When a driver takes their eyes off the road to read or respond to a text, they take all their attention away from the task at hand. According to AT&T’s It Can Wait campaign, 95% of Americans view distracted driving as a problem, yet nearly 80% openly admit to driving while distracted. Putting an end to
These Apps Can CAN YOUR PHONE PREVENT DIST While it may sound preposterous, there are ways your phone can help you stay focused on the road. New apps can now help you concentrate by keeping you off your phone. While distracted driving can be caused by anything pulling your attention away, smartphones are the most common culprit. Checking your phone for texts, calls, or social media updates while driving has become a dangerous habit for many. That’s why developers created distracted driving apps that can keep you accountable and safe. Whether it’s silencing notifications or tracking your phone use, these apps can help keep your phone out of your hands when behind the wheel. This Distracted
Driving Awareness Month, download these apps to kick your dangerous phone habits to the curb and remain safe while driving. I’m Driving Want everyone to know you’re driving before they can text or call you? I’m Driving lets you notify your contacts that you are
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distracted driving starts with each of us. Put your
phone on silent and out of reach while driving, and avoid eating or drinking. Doing so will help make the roads safer for all who use them.
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