Distracted Driving – Not Just Your Cell Phone!

Dangerous Call

While distracted driving includes the use of cell phones, there are many other dangerous driving distractions.

In a web post (https://www.travelers.com/prepare-prevent/auto/distracted-driving/distracted-driving-statistics.aspx ), Travelers Insurance talks about the many distractions we face while driving.  The bottom line is that anything that takes your eyes off the road is a driving distraction.

Here is a list of some of the distractions and consequences mentioned in that article:

  • Cell phone use – Did you know during the average text your eyes are off the road the length of a football field? You are 23 times more likely to have an accident if you text while driving.
  • Eating – You are 2 times more likely to have an accident if you eat while driving.
  • Dropping a water bottle – Find a safe place and pull over to retrieve the water bottle. You are 9 times more likely to have an accident when you try to retrieve something.
  • Personal Grooming – Wait until you are in the parking lot. You are 3 times more likely to have an accident if groom yourself while driving.

There are many other distractions like reading, checking your GPS, changing the radio channel or CD, reviewing your IPod and looking at people in the back seat.

All of us need to be careful with driving distractions.  As summer approaches more teen drivers will be on the road.  Make sure you review the dangers of distracted driving with your family.  Driving is not the time to multi task.

For more tips for the parents of teen drivers check out our Teen Driver Website!

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