Distracted driving is inevitable in today’s society. A big part of “why” is simply because of the technology that’s available to the everyday person. Distracted driving is all around us.
Have you ever sat at light that turns green, and the car in front of you is still sitting there? They’re probably not looking ahead.
Ever drove down a road and noticed a car veering into another lane before correcting themselves? Probably looking at their phone.
Ever been at a standstill and the car behind you must slam on breaks? Most likely they didn’t notice traffic stopped because their head was in their phone.
These are just a few signs of distracted driving and they occur every single day. According to the CDC, nine people are killed and 1,000 are injured each day due to distracted driving crashes.
You may think you’re one of the safer drivers, but research begs to differ. Here are different distracted driving habits to be self-aware of!
- Talking on the phone
“But…..I talk on the phone through my Bluetooth. I don’t physically hold the phone to my ear.” Says everyone who talks while driving. Some phone calls must be answered, we understand that. However, this is still considered a form of distracted driving. This can impair your reaction time and - Rubbernecking
Yes, we’re all guilty of doing this at some point. Rubbernecking is the act of staring at something of interest. For drivers, this can be an accident on the side of the road, animals, other cars, or landmarks. Whatever the interest may be, this not only causes traffic, but it can cause accidents as well. Anytime that you’re not keeping your eyes on the road, you’re distracted. - Eating
It’s hard waiting until you’re home to take a bit out of that burger, so you start eating and drinking in the car. While this may seem hard to avoid, especially if you’ve gone a long time without eating, this is very distracting and should be avoided. Your burger isn’t going anywhere! - Switching Songs
A very common habit among drivers is switching songs during their car ride. It only takes a second for an accident to occur. It could happen during the same second you spend browsing through songs or podcasts on your mobile device! - Personal Grooming
Need to apply makeup or fix your hair? You can do that while parked somewhere safe, not driving or at a red light! - Other Passengers
Have kids or pets in the car? Both can be distracting! Whether you’re admiring their beauty or simply paying attention to their behavior, your eyes need to be on the road.
Our job is to keep you as safe as possible behind the wheel when you’re on the road. While this list isn’t comprehensive, these were stated as being some of the most distracting acts one can engage in while driving. Take note of these habits and be sure to avoid them as much as possible.