Driving can be fun but is one of the tasks that need total concentration. There are many tasks that you feel you can do while driving, causing distractions on the road. Some of these are texting or attending to your kids and others. As a result, most of the accidents that happen on the roads today are due to distracted driving. However, it is possible to drive safely and ensure that you and other people around you are driving safe. Below are some of the tips as given by personal injury lawyers on how to avoid distracted driving and reduce risks of accidents. Try as much as possible to learn more about Kruger & Hodges Attorneys at Law and about the dangers of using your phone when driving to avoid possible bankruptcy and prison-time.
Keep Your Cell Phone Off
Phones are the main cause of distraction when driving. In most cases, you assume that you can call or text and still concentrate on driving. However, this may seem manageable, but you may miss something crucial on the road leading to an accident. For this reason, ensure that you keep your phone off and use it only in the event of emergencies. In case you receive or make a call, it is advisable to pull over and continue driving after you finish calling. Your injury lawyer would have a hard time supporting your case if you caused the accident when driving.
Limit The Passengers You Are Carrying
Ideally, as the driver, you may want to drive safely and eliminate all possible distractions. However, if there are distractive passengers in your car, achieving this is easier said than done. For instance, driving with friends in the same vehicle may be a bit risky since novice drivers will be more concentrated on their friends and not on the road. That is a common cause, especially for teenage drivers. Therefore, before you start driving, especially for long distances, ensure that you have only the passengers who will not interfere with your concentration on the road, thus avoiding accidents.
Avoid Eating
Eating or drinking while driving may seem like a rejuvenating or fun thing to do. However, this is one major distraction that will make you miss something and later result in an accident. Being too busy or in a hurry that you opt to leave your house without eating is not an excuse to eat in the car. Eating will mean that you are less attentive to other drivers or passengers on the road. On the other hand, you may concentrate more on the food spills and shift your attention from the way. Therefore, make sure that you eat before you start driving to avoid temptations of eating and driving.
Secure Kids And Pets
Kids and pets are a common reason for distracted driving. That is because they may need your attention, and you opt to attend to them as you continue driving. Therefore, before you start driving, take time, and ensure that your kid is safe in their car seats, and the pets are in their place at the back. Additionally, if you need to attend to them, ensure that you first pull out as this will reduce risks. If you have a kid who is impossible to settle on their own, then you could bring a babysitter along or ask somebody to drive you. Furthermore, it is inadvisable to have pets that roam about in the car since they are a source of increased risks.
Prepare Before You Start Driving
As you start driving, you never expect to get distracted as you drive. However, some of the things that you do in the car and are a must-do are distractions. For instance, looking for lost items or changing the vehicle controls. Though these activities are not as involved, they will make you miss a detail that will result in an accident. Therefore, before you start driving, make sure that you have everything that you need with you. If there is something that you must look for, it is advisable to pull over to reduce the chances of an accident.
Rely On The Passengers You Are Carrying
Your passengers will be of great help to you when you are driving to help you eliminate distractions. Therefore, if there are things that you need to attend to such as making calls, navigating the route, or securing pets or children, then ask them to help you with that. This way, all your attention is on the road, and you are thus in a position to drive better.
Driving may seem like a natural responsibility for anybody. However, a simple distraction when driving may lead to a fatal accident. You can surely reduce accidents caused by distracted driving by avoiding the distractions explained above.
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