09 Jan Driving Distracted?

Driving Distracted?

Driving requires your full attention. Cell phones, navigation systems, radios, passengers, food, work-related concerns, and other distractions can take your eyes, hands, or mind away from the task of driving.

A distraction lasting only a few seconds can be enough to miss a changing traffic signal, stopped vehicle, pedestrian, road hazard, or unexpected action by another driver. When you are behind the wheel, driving must be your primary responsibility.

Understand the Types of Distraction

Driving distractions generally fall into three categories:

• Visual distractions – taking your eyes off the road.
• Manual distractions – taking your hands off the steering wheel.
• Cognitive distractions – taking your mind off driving.

Some activities, such as texting, can involve all three types of distraction at the same time.

Prepare Before You Drive

Reduce distractions before putting the vehicle in motion:

• Finish calls, messages, paperwork, and other business before leaving.
• Adjust your seat, mirrors, climate controls, and other vehicle settings.
• Enter your destination into the navigation system before driving.
• Secure tools, equipment, paperwork, and other loose objects.
• Become familiar with the route whenever practical.
• Fasten your seat belt and make sure passengers are properly restrained.
• Silence or store your phone if necessary to prevent temptation.

Stay Focused While Driving

While the vehicle is moving:

• Keep your eyes on the road and your hands ready to control the vehicle.
• Do not text, type, read, or manually use a mobile device.
• Avoid eating, grooming, reading paperwork, or reaching for objects.
• Do not attempt to take notes or perform work-related tasks.
• Keep radio, navigation, and climate-control adjustments to a minimum.
• Keep conversations from interfering with your ability to concentrate.
• Pull over and park safely before performing an activity that requires your attention away from driving.

Hands-free devices may reduce manual distraction, but they do not eliminate cognitive distraction.

Drive Defensively

Safe drivers continually scan for hazards and anticipate how conditions may change.

• Look well ahead of your vehicle rather than concentrating only on the vehicle directly in front of you.
• Check mirrors regularly and be aware of surrounding traffic.
• Stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots whenever practical.
• Watch carefully for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles, construction workers, and children.
• Maintain a safe following distance and adequate space around your vehicle.
• Adjust your speed for traffic, weather, visibility, and roadway conditions.
• Expect other drivers to make mistakes and maintain an escape route whenever possible.

Don’t Let Work Become a Distraction

Employees driving for work may feel pressure to answer calls, respond to messages, check directions, or handle business while traveling. No work-related communication is more important than operating the vehicle safely.

If a call, message, navigation change, or other work activity requires your attention, find a safe location, park the vehicle, and complete the task before continuing.

Recognize Mental Distraction

Not all distractions involve a phone or other device. Stress, fatigue, frustration, personal problems, and thinking about the next job can also reduce attention.

If you realize that you have been driving without remembering the previous few miles, refocus your attention on the road. If fatigue or an inability to concentrate continues, find a safe place to stop.

Remember

Distracted driving is not limited to texting. Anything that takes your eyes, hands, or attention away from driving can increase your risk of a crash.

Prepare before you leave, eliminate unnecessary distractions, maintain a safe following distance, scan continuously for hazards, and keep your attention where it belongs—on the road.