Distraction Comes in Many Forms

In the car, it could mean taking your eyes off the road to change the radio station, or taking your hands off the wheel to eat a snack.

From eating, to using a GPS, and talking or texting on a cell phone, there's no limit to the possible distractions while driving and each one puts the driver, passengers, and others on the road at risk.

In 2016 alone, 3,450 people lost their lives due to distracted driving. It's a common topic that we hear a lot about but that does not minimize it's importance.

Inattentive driving can be caused by many different distractions behind the wheel:

Mobile Phones
People using a cellphone while driving have a 34 percent higher risk of having a collision. Studies suggest that drivers who use car phones face an accident risk nearly as great as that of driving drunk.
The accident risk of using a hands-free model is just as great as using a hand-held phone. Your primary mission while behind the wheel is driving, and you must pay attention at all times.

Radios
Do not play a radio so loud that you cannot hear the sounds your vehicle is making or the horns or sirens of other vehicles. It is particularly dangerous to wear headphones while driving. You may not realize your turn signal is still clicking, or you may not hear a noise that means something is wrong with your vehicle's engine. If you cannot hear other vehicles, horns, or sirens, you may have a collision that you otherwise could have avoided. You should not play a radio or other sound system so loud that it can be heard 50 feet away from your vehicle.

Televisions
You cannot have a television in a motor vehicle in a location where the driver can watch it. Do not be tempted, on a long drive, to watch a video on your cellphone. Anything that distracts your eyes from the road is dangerous.

Dangerous Activities
It is very dangerous to remove a coat or jacket while driving. Other activities such as applying makeup, reading maps, or reading the newspaper while driving are also dangerous. These types of activities can place you in serious danger of a crash.

Please drive carefully.