Distracted Driving Awareness

By Connie Hogue, Director of Human Resources and Safety

When driving, it's important to stay alert. Unfortunately, too many drivers are easily distracted, which can lead to accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) claims that more than 600,000 vehicle crashes result from distracted driving each year. According to the National Safety Council, 42,060 people died on the roadways in the United States in 2020.

With April being National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we wanted to share ways we can all work together to make a difference and help resolve distracted driving and other challenges.

Common Distractions

Whether the distraction is visual, manual or cognitive, below are a few of the most common driving distractions that put you, your passengers, other vehicles and pedestrians in danger:

• Changing the radio station

• Eating and drinking

• Messing with the navigation system

• Texting or talking on the phone

• Smoking or vaping

Other Distractions

Aggressive Driving: Aggressive driving not only causes roadway accidents, but it causes the driver to suffer from cognitive distractions. They aren’t able to focus on safely driving, but rather, what is going on with the car ahead or next to them. Examples of aggressive driving would be making gestures at other drivers, tailgating too close to another vehicle and trying to make eye contact. An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that nearly 8 in 10 American drivers demonstrate aggressive behaviors when behind the wheel.

Speeding: When a driver is speeding, they may be distracted by looking for police vehicles in the distance, behind them or on the other side of the road, because they don’t want to get a ticket. If speeding in a rain storm or snow storm, you may even lose control of the vehicle causing you to be in a dangerous position that you cannot correct. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019, speeding killed 9,478 people, and nearly half of those killed were not wearing seat belts.

Tips to Drive Safe

• Be an engaged driver even if your vehicle has new advanced driver assistance technology

• Stop every hour or two to get out of the vehicle, stretch and get refreshed

• Don’t drive when you're tired

• Always wear your seatbelt

• Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings

• Move over and slow down for all law enforcement officers, emergency responders, road construction and maintenance vehicles, tow trucks and utility crews

The next time you get into your vehicle, put your phone away, the coffee cup down, input the navigation and fasten your seatbelt all before you leave your driveway or a parking lot. By doing these simple steps and being aware of distracted driving, we can all make the initiative to keep ourselves and other drivers and pedestrians free from harm.