April 12, 2022
Help Stop Distracted Driving
Tosha Missel, PacLease Marketing Specialist
April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month. Distracted driving is anything that takes the driver’s attention away from focusing on driving. Are your practices helping to keep your fleet and others on the roads safe?
Distracted driving impacts thousands of Americans each year. Every driver has the responsibility to avoid distractions while operating a vehicle. In the United States, over 3,100 people were killed and about 424,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019. The CVSA Operation Safe Driver Program list three main components involved in distracted driving:
- Visual Distraction: Looking away from the road
- Manual Distraction: Removing one or both hands from the steering wheel
- Cognitive Distraction: Taking your mind off of the task of driving
Texting is considered one of the most dangerous forms of distraction since it involves all three types of distraction and makes you 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident. In some states, laws have been enacted to prevent distracted driving; banning texting while driving, and implementing hands-free requirements.
So, what can you do to ensure your fleet is doing its part to make our roads a little safer?
Tips from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
- Program the GPS and adjust the mirrors and radio before you start driving.
- Don’t multi-task while driving.
- Don’t drive while fatigued. Make sure you are well rested before getting behind the wheel.
- Never text or email while driving. Pull off to a safe location if you must text.
- Avoid using a cell phone while driving. Even the use of a hands-free device is dangerous as it involves cognitive distraction.
- Avoid distracting activities, such as eating, personal grooming and reaching for items.
- Buckle up. It is your last line of defense. Seat belts save lives.
Help prevent distracted driving. Stay focused on the road, keep your hands on the wheel, and keep your eyes on the road. Correct your behavior before it's too late, don’t become a statistic.
Learn more tips from Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) on preventing distracted driving:
https://www.cvsa.org/wp-content/uploads/OSD-CMV-Distracted-Driving.pdf
For more information from the CDC on distracted driving:
https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html