Every day, at least nine people die and 1,000 are injured in distracted driving crashes. Cell phones, dashboard touchscreens, voice commands and other in-vehicle technologies pose a threat to our safety. The consequences of those distractions are not worth the convenience they offer. Ignore the distractions and #just drive.
#justdrive is the name of the National Safety Council’s April Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign. We at A-Affordable Insurance Agency want to help make sure that Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April is a united effort to recognize the dangers of and eliminate preventable deaths from distracted driving. Let’s save lives together!
Pledge to Just Drive – “Free From Distractions”
A-Affordable Insurance Agency is happy to share NSC’s Safety Fact Sheet – “When Convenience is Dangerous” and the #just drive “Pledge to be an Attentive Driver.” (include link to both)
You can play an active role in keeping our roads safe by making a commitment to yourself and your loved ones that you will eliminate distractions while driving.
Are YOU an Employer? Employers are encouraged to implement a cell phone policy that prohibits employees from using their cell phones while driving on the job. The policy and supporting materials are available in the National Safety Council’s (NSC) free, downloadable Safe Driving Kit.
Are YOU a distracted driving? Here is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s definition:
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system – anything that takes your attention from the task of safe driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there are three types of distracted driving:
- Manual: when drivers take their hands off the wheel to adjust
the radio, reach for an item, or pet their dog. - Visual: when drivers take their eyes off the road to look at an
accident, glance at a text message, or look at their kids in the back
seat. - Cognitive: when drivers take their minds off the act of driving to
daydream, think about a problem at work, or consider their grocery
list.
The definition of distracted driving is fairly short, but there’s a long, sad and frightening trail of statistics about its impact. Are you a distracted driver? Click here to find out.
