Distracted Driving
When you are driving, do you ever:
- Comb or brush your hair?
- Tune the radio or change the CD?
- Pick up something from the floor or between the seats?
- Clean the inside of the windshield?
- Use a cell phone?
- Eat or drink?
- Talk to passengers?
- Almost “nod off” for a second?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are driving
while distracted and are at risk of an accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute report that driver
inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes.
The study reports that nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent
of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within 3
seconds before the crash.
Cell Phones
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS),
drivers using cell phones are 4 times as likely to get into crashes
serious enough to injure themselves. When you are searching for a number,
dialing or talking on a cell phone, you are not watching the road like
you should. Hands-free features help, but they cannot guarantee that
you will not become involved in a conversation and lose concentration.
| Preventing Distracted Driving |
Do: Drive defensively with both hands on the wheel. Keep your
eyes on the road. Avoid the following distractions while driving:
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- Talking to passengers.
- Dealing with children.
- Eating, drinking, smoking or personal grooming.
- Using a cell phone, pager or any communication device.
- Reading maps, directions or any written materials.
- Adjusting vehicle controls: for example, radios, CDs, air
conditioning.
- Reaching down or behind the driver’s seat; picking up items
from the floor.
- Opening the glove compartment.
- Cleaning inside windows.
- Responding to roadside distractions.
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| If you must do any of these activities, pull over and stop
safely first. |
Drowsy Driving
Driving while drowsy is similar
to driving under the influence
of alcohol or drugs and can be
as fatal as driving impaired.
Warning Signs Of Drowsy Driving
- Inability to recall the last few
miles traveled.
- Having disconnected or wandering
thoughts.
- Having difficulty focusing or
keeping your eyes open.
- Feeling as though your head
is heavy.
- Drifting from the lane in
which you are driving.
- Yawning repeatedly.
- Tailgating other vehicles.
- Missing traffic signs.
What To Do If You Become Tired While Driving
- Find a safe place to stop the
vehicle.
- Take a short nap (20 minutes).
- Drink coffee to promote
short-term alertness until you
can find a safe place to rest.
Source: The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA)
| Preventing Drowsy Driving |
Remember to: |
- Get adequate sleep before driving.
- Avoid driving during the body’s natural sleep times: late night
and early morning.
- Avoid foods high in fat and sugar, which can contribute to
fatigue.
- Avoid using alcohol or drugs.
- Share the driving, if possible.
- Take regular breaks. Stop every two hours to stretch.
- Drink water, juice or a soft drink low in sugar and caffeine. Sugar and caffeine promote short-term alertness but may
increase drowsiness over longer periods of time.
- Keep the inside of your vehicle at a cool temperature.
- Listen to talk shows rather than music. The discussion will help
keep you ALERT.
- Educate yourself about misconceptions: The so-called “drowsy
driving remedies” (turning up radio volume, eating, etc.) are
distractions in themselves.
Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) |
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