Distracted driving is one of the main causes of car accidents on the road. When you lose your focus while driving, your reaction times decrease and you make poor decisions. However, you can minimize distractions and stay safe on the road by following some simple steps. Below are some practical tips that will help you reduce distractions while driving.
1. Put Your Phone Away
Using a mobile phone is one of the most dangerous distractions for drivers. Whether you are reading text messages, looking at notifications or even speaking on the phone, the likelihood of an accident increases significantly.
Don’t Even Look: Put your phone in the glove box, a bag or other place where you can avoid the temptation of reaching for it while driving.
Toggle on Do Not Disturb Mode: On an iPhone, the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature silences incoming notifications and automatically replies to texts telling others that you’re behind the wheel.
Hint: If you’re using your phone for navigation, map out your route before you begin driving and use a hands-free mount.
2. Avoid Eating While Driving
It can also take your eyes off the road if you try to eat or drink while driving. Take-away coffee is a common distraction because you have to reach over to the cup holder, unscrew the lid, try not to spill, fish out the little sachets …
‘Do not eat during your drive, eat before or after.’ Be sure to include strong safety measures in your communication. For example: ‘Turn off. Pull over if you feel tired.’ The same goes for eating: ‘Eat before you leave or wait until you’ve arrived. If your drive is too long, pull over and stop if you need to eat.’
Pick Easy Snacks: If you have to eat while driving, make it simple, low-mess snacks that don’t require much attention.
Tip: Keep food and drinks in easy reach so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.
3. Set Up Your Car Before You Drive
Taking a moment before you start driving to adjust your mirrors and get your radio set up helps to make sure you don’t lose focus during the journey.
Mirrors and Seats: Have the vehicle’s mirrors and seats properly adjusted before you run them; no need to fiddle with them on the road.
Set Up Music/GPS: Choose a playlist, radio station or podcast and programme your GPS before you start driving so you are not fiddling with buttons as you go.
Tip: Be familiar with the controls of your vehicle, such as the HVAC and audio system so that you can make adjustments without taking your eyes off the road.
4. Limit Passenger Distractions
Driver distraction arises from the fact that we need to solve the problem of passengers, who can become a source of distraction when they request our attention as children and pets might do.
EstablishBoundaries: If you have children in the car with you, request some time to drive without them annoying you. Be explicit: I want to have half an hour to process what has happened before we talk about it.
Make Pets Feel Secure: Put pets in carriers, harnesses, or seat belts to keep them in one place.
Rule: If u have a passenger circumstance that requires your attention, stop to side of road BEFORE addressing.
5. Avoid Multitasking
Since driving is such a dangerous task, it’s best to avoid trying to juggle multiple tasks while driving – for example, combing your hair while driving, driving while reading, or driving while dealing with paperwork.
Finish Urgent Matters Before Going Behind the Wheel: Finish grooming, putting on make-up or reading the directions before you start driving.
Safety first: Remember that driving is your first job, so never do anything else while driving that isn’t related to your driving. Leave the non-driving tasks until you’ve arrived.
Hint: If you find yourself running late and considering multitasking, lean into the driving task by telling yourself ‘I’d rather arrive safely than drive distracted and have an accident.’
6. Stay Focused on the Road
To remain focused while driving is not easy because one always tends to think of something else.
Use the following infographic as a guide for practising mindful driving: Supplementary materials:
Take Breaks on Long Trips: When driving long distances, stop often, get out, and engage in whatever is in front of you.
Tip: Tired of being tired? No, seriously. If you’re having a hard time focusing, pull over and get some rest, or switch drivers.
7. Use Technology Wisely
although it can be a distraction, technology can also help you focus if used effectively.
Hands-Free Devices: If possible use hands-free devices like Bluetooth so you can keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Voice Commands: A lot of modern cars have voice command systems to navigate you, choose music etc. Use these as much as possible to not spend a lot of time having to use your hands while driving.
Tip: Hands-free is not distraction-free, so use hands-free technology infrequently and always drive first.
Conclusion: Stay Safe by Staying Focused
With reduced diversions while driving, it can help evade any incidence while driving, which can protect you self and others from any contingencies while driving. When you separate from the phone distract from other things and stay centered while driving, you and all the others on the path can evade tremendous unacceptable conditions of being disturbed. No diversion while driving can tolerate harming anyone, because no diversion can be permitted which can do any harm to anyone.
