April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in recognition of a public health issue that can affect anyone, at any time on our roads. According to the National Safety council, more than 40,000 Americans were killed in traffic accidents in 2018 (up 6% from 2015) and distracted driving is a major contributing factor. Each distracted driving fatality is 100% preventable. Driving requires your full attention and the tips below can help eliminate distractions and improve safety.
- Pull off the road and stop your vehicle in a safe place to attend to distractions instead of “multi-tasking”.
- Make sure passengers are not providing a distraction, so you can focus on driving. This is a big one with teenage drivers!
- Do not use cell phones while driving – handheld or hands-free – unless it’s an emergency.
- Secure children and pets before the trip and pull over if you need to care for them during.
- Do not attend to personal business, such as snacking or personal grooming, while driving.