How to prevent common distractions you face on the road

On Behalf of | Jul 1, 2020 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Perhaps, you want to put your windows up and turn on the air conditioner while driving on a sunny afternoon. This will require you to take at least one of your hands off the wheel to press the appropriate buttons, and you might have to take your eyes off the road to locate the buttons. While this might seem like a regular part of driving, that doesn’t mean it isn’t distracting you from the road ahead.

Since it’s almost impossible to face zero distractions while on the road, it’s crucial you do all you can to prevent yourself from engaging in distracted driving. This can include taking steps to prepare before you leave your driveway and being mindful of potential distractions you may come across while in motion.

Prepare in advance

Before taking off on long or short drives, there are plenty of measures you can take to reduce distractions while driving, including:

  • Putting your cell phone somewhere out of reach
  • Typing in directions before shifting gears from park to drive
  • Making music or podcast selections prior to leaving
  • Fueling up with food or non-alcoholic beverages ahead of time
  • Getting some toys or activities together for your kids to do while you drive
  • Making sure your dog uses the bathroom before bringing them along

Whether you drive solo or regularly drive with others, there are ways to make sure you aren’t multitasking while driving.

Keep your focus

While on the road, you should try your best to keep driving your sole focus. You can do this by:

  • Not letting what’s on your mind interrupt your ability to drive
  • Keeping your eyes on the road, even while you converse with passengers
  • Catching up with texts after your drive
  • Using your mirrors for driving and not touching up hair or makeup
  • Sticking to musical selections you made in advance
  • Pulling over to a safe spot, if you can’t fight a distraction or experience an emergency

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 3,000 people lost their lives due to distracted driving in 2018. So, you might not be able to control a bird narrowly missing your windshield. But there are ways you can actively fight distracting habits or actions while driving.