|
Welcome
Officers & Board of Directors
Divisions
Division Speaker Downloads
Training & Resources
Community Safety Programs
Group Discount Programs
Safety News
Upcoming Events
Quick Links
|
|
FACT SHEET
Pay Attention--Safe Driving is a Full-Time Job
Thoughts for the Road
- Distracted driving is estimated to be a factor in between 25 to
50 percent of all traffic crashes--that’s between 4,000 and
8,000 crashes every day.
- Distracted driving is the presence of anything that can distract
a driver’s physical and mental attention from driving.
- Driving instructors estimate that a driver makes an average of
200 decisions during every mile they drive. This leaves no room
for multi-tasking while behind the wheel.
- According to a recent survey, drivers in the U.S. now spend a
total of 500 million hours a week in their vehicles.
What Drives People to Distraction?
- Other passengers, especially children
- Driving an unfamiliar vehicle or route
- Unsecured cargo
- Adjusting in-vehicle electronics including navigation systems,
radios or CD players, and using the phone
- Eating or reading while driving
- Engaging in intense or emotional conversations
- Emotional state and/or serious personal problems
- Grooming
Tips to Manage Potential Distractions
- Pre-set the climate control, radio and CD player and identify
the location of signals, wipers and lights in the vehicle before
you drive.
- Don’t wait until you are driving to plan your route or attend
to grooming. Plan before you go and leave a little earlier; it will
help you to arrive at your destination safely and less stressed.
- Pull off the road to make calls. Pre-set your cellular phone with
commonly called numbers and allow voicemail to handle incoming calls.
- Be sure to properly secure pets and any cargo you may be transporting.
- Be sure children are properly secured in an age-appropriate child
passenger safety restraint.
|
