fbpx

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Road scene with Drive Safely

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

We all understand the dangers and impact of driving under the influence of substances. However, there is a bigger menace nowadays….

 

Distracted driving is the diversion of attention from driving, as a result of the driver focusing on a non-driving object, activity, event or person. This reduces awareness and decision-making leading to the increased risk of driver error and/or crashes.

 

Things can happen in the blink of an eye when you aren’t focused on the road. Distracted driving puts you and others at risk – it doesn’t matter if you’re on the highway or stopped at a red light.

 

Here are some statistics regarding distracted driving:

  • Drivers engaged in visual-manual interactions with cell phones (e.g., texting) are up to eight times as likely to be involved in a crash. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2017)
  • Checking a text for 5 seconds means that at 90 km/h, you’ve travelled the length of a football field blindfolded.
  • Drivers conversing on mobile devices, either hands-free or hand-held are up to four times as likely to be involved in a crash. (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2017)
  • Economic losses caused by traffic collision-related health care costs and lost productivity are at least $10 billion annually. That’s about 1% of Canada’s GDP! (Government of Canada)

To reduce distracted driving, you can do the following things:

  • Plan your route in advance
  • Put your cell phone away
  • Avoid eating or drinking
  • Getting enough rest before hitting the road
  • On long drives, switch drivers
  • Lower the volume on your music/radio

It’s extremely important to stay focused on the road for your safety and everyone else’s – drive safely out there!

No Comments

Post a Comment

Comment
Name
Email
Website