April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three (3) types of driver distractions:
- Visual-taking your eyes off the road.
- Manual-taking your hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive-taking your mind off driving.
A 2019 study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that among drivers ages 15-20 involved in fatal crashes, 9% were distracted at the time of the crash. #ItCanWait. Distracted driving is preventable. Review our tips below for drivers and passengers.
Drivers—you are not only responsible for your life when you’re behind the wheel. Your actions can impact your passengers and other drivers as well as yourself.
- Do not multitask. Eating, choosing a new playlist, reading a text, etc., are all examples of things you can do before or after your trip, not during.
- Put your phone on silent or turn off your notifications before you leave.
Passengers—you have the right to safely reach your destination.
- Speak-up if your driver is distracted. Ask the driver to focus on driving.
- Help to reduce distractions by helping with navigation or other tasks.
We want everyone to arrive safely at their destination(s). Be accountable for yourself when you’re driving and hold others accountable when you’re the passenger. If something besides driving needs your attention, find a safe place to stop. Make safe driving a priority, because #ItCanWait.