Avoiding Distractions on the Road

Avoid cell phone usage when possible. Absolutely never text, surf the web, check email or play games while driving. If you must make or take a call, use a Bluetooth headset or, if your car is equipped, the voice-activated Bluetooth system. If a call is upsetting or alarming, pull over so your emotions don’t distract you from the road. 

Avoid multitasking while driving. This includes putting on makeup, eating in the car and any other risky activity. Food spills are a major distraction. If you’re transporting food, ensure that it’s well-wrapped and that drink containers have tight lids. If you must eat in the car, munch on foods that can spill, such as a granola bar.  

Secure children, pets and/or loose items before leaving. Reaching into the back to make adjustments to safety straps or to catch a falling item can cause you to lose control of the car. Similarly, set your GPS and adjust your seats and mirrors before leaving as well. 

Pull off the road if you feel drowsy. Drowsy driving quadruples your risk of a crash. Taking a quick twenty-minute power nap in the shoulder or a parking lot can give you the clarity you need to get home safely. 

Limit your passengers. This is especially important for new drivers, who can be easily distracted by conversations with friends. Such conversations can detract from your concentration on the road. Emotionally distressing conversations should not take place in a moving vehicle.