April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Avoiding distractions while driving could save your life

You’ve seen them on the roads, you might know a few of them, and you could even be one yourself. Distracted drivers in come in all shapes, sizes, ages and experience levels. Even if you’re not one today, you could become one at any moment — in the time it takes you to answer your cell phone or check the kids in the back seat.

The National Safety Council has designated April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, or the perfect time to reassess your habits behind the wheel and make improvements that could make the road a safer place for everyone. If you or someone else you know thinks you can drive just fine while talking on your phone, consider this statistic: more than 450,000 people were injured in crashes that reportedly involved distracted driving in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Among those people, more than 5,000 died.

Distractions on the road come in many forms, according to www.distraction.gov, a U.S. Department of Transportation website. The three main types of driving distractions are:

Visual – taking your eyes off the road

Manual –taking your hands off the wheel

Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing

Use the following tips to help avoid all three of these kinds of distracting behind-the-wheel behaviors:

·         Put your phone in silent mode and store it away from the front seat or in a purse or bag to help reduce temptation.

·         If you have a passenger in your vehicle, ask him/her to answer your phone or return text messages for you.

·         If a call or a text can’t wait, pull over in a safe spot before using your phone.

·         Although it may seem obvious, finish shaving, eating, and/or applying makeup before you get in the car!

·         If you’re emotional, wait until you’ve calmed down before hitting the road.

·         Avoid road rage. You’ll be happier and safer.

Although you may feel like you can handle it in the moment, it’s never the right time to multi-task when you’re on the road. Focusing solely on your responsibilities as a driver will help you ensure that you arrive at your destination safely.

At Hunkins & Eaton Insurance Agency  in Littleton, NH, and Lisbon, NH, your safety is our priority. For additional safety tips and other useful resources, please read our other blog posts, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.