In the United States about 8 people are killed in crashes that are reported to have involved a distracted driving every day. Distracted driving is the act of driving while doing something else that takes your attention away from your driving. Distracted driving increases your chances of being involved in a motor vehicle crash.
What drivers can do to prevent distracted driving?
- Do not multitask while driving. Whether you are adjusting mirrors, picking music, eating a sandwich, making a phone call, or reading an email―do it before or after your trip, not during.
- Consider using an app to reduce your distractions while driving.
What passengers can do to help prevent distracted driving accidents?
- You can speak up if you are a passenger in the car with a driver who is distracted. You can ask the driver to focus on driving – put away the phone, put down the sandwich, etc.
- You can help the driver reduce distractions by assisting with navigation or answering calls or texts.
What parents can do prevent distracted driving?
- Talk to child about the rules and responsibilities involved in driving. Share stories and statistics related to teen and young adult drivers and distracted driving.
- Remind you children that driving is a skill that requires the driver’s full attention.
- Emphasize that texts and phone calls can wait until arriving at a destination and should not be handled while driving.
- Familiarize yourself with your states graduated driver licensing system and enforce them with your teen.
- Know your state’s distracted driving laws. Many have novice driver provisions in their distracted driving laws. Talk with your teen about the consequences and make your child aware of the penalties for texting or talking while they are driving.
- Set consequences and set rules of the road for your family and child. Your family’s rules of the road can be stricter than state laws.
- Set a good example for your child. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel while driving so your child sees you following your state’s laws.