How to Avoid Distracted Driving and Be a Safe Driver?

DWD or, Driving While Distracted, has been in the news a lot lately and for good reason. It is the reason behind 65 percent of near crashes and 80 percent of all crashes that occur in the United States. Studies have shown that most crashes occur within 3 seconds of the driver being distracted.

There are plenty of distractions inside a car i.e. the CD player, radio, glove box, drinks, food, cell phones and makeup! And then there are the outside distractions like billboards, animals, UFOs; you name it.

But there are some things that can be done to minimize the effects of these distractions and have a safe drive.

Don’t Use Cell Phone and Drive

It is becoming increasingly impossible to not use the cell phone at all times. But studies show that cell phone usage can compromise our driving skills significantly. Using a hands-free device does not reduce the level of distraction either because the driver is still tangled in the phone call and paying less attention to the road ahead. Even worse is using a cell phone to send or reply to text messages and e-mails, as these activities may take both hands away from the steering wheel.

Don’t Put on Your Makeup While Driving

Or fix your hair. These activities invite distractions because you look into a makeup mirror instead of your rear view mirror. Your attention is on yourself and not on the oncoming car that may be visible in plain sight, but you are busy otherwise.

So it is ideal to fix your makeup before you get into the car or after you arrive at your journey’s end. And if these options don’t suit you well enough, at least pull over to primp yourself up.

Don’t Fiddle With the Music

There used to be a time when your car radio was your only option for entertainment and music on the road. These days, you have got plenty of distractions in the form of tapes, CDs and MP3 players.

The Preset button is your friend. Use it instead of the tuning knob. Invest in a CD changer that lets you queue up multiple CDs instead of changing a CD every time you want it played. Some CD changers go in your trunk, while others go in the vehicle console. Or you can use an MP3 player with your favorite tunes. You already have everything you want to listen to on there.

You can listen to music and drive, but make sure that your eyes remain on the road and your hands at the wheel at all times.

Don’t Eat While Driving

Eating becomes a dangerous activity when you are driving. For starters you have to take a hand of the steering wheel, also unwrap the food, make sure you aren’t spilling and also drive. Finishing your meal on your way to a meeting may seem like an innocent time saver but it makes you a less attentive driver. So ditch the habit and eat when you aren’t driving.

Take your time when driving. Distracted driving not only endangers you and your passengers but also other drivers and passersby. Focus on the road and getting a defensive driving course online Texas approved once a year is the best way to be a safe driver on the road !

Top 5 Road Safety and Driving Tips for Teen Drivers in Texas State

Becoming a safe and responsible driver is the best thing anyone can do for themselves. It is imperative that kids these days realize that the freedom, independence and adventure that come with a driver’s license also results in more accountability. Keeping our teen drivers safe on the road is becoming increasingly difficult with the huge number of distractions they are subjected to everyday.

Remember the Basics

This is the easy stuff, but that doesn’t diminish its importance to being a great driver. Learning defensive driving and to obey the speed limit, be cautious during bad weather, maintain your car, and don’t drink and drive. These seemingly simple methods are the key to ensuring safety while you are on the road.

Every time you get in the driver’s seat, adjust the headrest to a height behind your head and not your neck. This will protect your neck and head in case of whiplash from a head-on crash. Also make sure that the windshield’s clean, especially if you are driving at sunset or sunrise. Otherwise the reflection from a dirty windshield may blind you for a few moments, and that is all it takes for an accident to happen.

Everyone learns this stuff before getting their license, but it is important to retain it afterwards as well.

Consider Other Drivers

You own the car and not the road. Everyone else has just as much of a right to be on there as you do, deal with it! It is important for teenagers to realize that you absolutely cannot assume anything about other persons driving capabilities.

You can’t even expect the other car to turn right just because their indicator light says so; they may just have forgotten to turn it off! It is your job to ensure your safety and everyone else as well. Drive with this thought it mind, and you will be an amazing driver.

Wear Your Seat belt

… And dramatically reduce your chances of being thrown out of the vehicle and into other cars in case of an accident. Make sure that all the passengers in your car have buckled up as well. Remember, Airbags don’t work without seat belts, so don’t rely on them alone.

Avoid Distractions and Disturbance

Putting on your makeup, making a call or typing a message on your cell phone, changing CDs or radio stations, are all big no-no’s for drivers. It only takes a split-second worth of decision making to successfully avoid an accident. But what if your senses are otherwise engaged and you are unable to assess the situation properly, then an accident is inevitable.

Put a Limit on Teen Passengers

Do not give into peer pressure and overload your car with friends, because friends fighting in the back will also make you give them more attention than the road. In fact, limit your passengers to your parents and instructors the first year of driving.

Studies show that the more teenagers in a car, the higher the risk of it crashing! Do not let your friends drive your car because if they get in an accident, you will still be persecuted. You could lose money, your car, driving privileges or even your life.

Getting their own driver’s license is an important milestone in any teenager’s life. But parental guidance is still important to ensure they learn responsibility and have the right set of tools to use their new-found freedom without hurting themselves.