There are so many things out of our control when we take to the roadway. We just can’t force other drivers to be attentive, careful and lawful when we share the road with them. However, we can take some simple steps with our own driving to ensure that we can quickly evade these negligent drivers, avoid accidents and not be a negligent driver ourselves. One of those things is obvious, but not a lot of people do it: Just say “no” to distracted driving.
If there is anything you do (aside from avoiding DUI and wearing your seatbelts) this holiday season when you get behind the wheel, this is probably the best thing you can do to improve your chances of avoiding a car crash.
When saying no, there are some primary distractors you absolutely must keep in check by avoiding them at all cost. First and foremost, put your cellphone away. Put it in the backseat so you will not be so much as tempted to take a peek at it. Indeed, these electronic devices are addicting and sometimes it is next-to-impossible to avoid the temptation of texting-while-driving, surfing the Internet or making calls while driving. If you can’t avoid the temptation, you know exactly who you are. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and put that smartphone out of reach.
Next, it does not matter how hungry you are, do not eat and drive. This can be just as distracting as cellphones because you will invariably lose your focus on the road, and if you lose your focus at an inopportune time, it could spell disaster for you, your family and other drivers and passengers on the road.
Finally, this last one may not seem so obvious and it may be extremely hard to say no to: emotional conversations. If you find yourself getting into an argument with one of your passengers in the car, you need to stop. It’s better to pull over than to be driving while you are upset and agitated. Not pulling over in these situations is a surefire way to lose your focus and attention on the road.
This is all very simple: Avoid distracted driving and you will dramatically reduce your risk of suffering injuries in a serious car accident. At the Dickerson & Smith Law Group, we hope everyone stays safe and has a beautiful holiday season.