I know that I have stated before that I spend a lot of time in traffic. Well, I do. and from the research I have done, it looks like about 27% of people living in Southern California commute to work every day. I know that number seems low, however, when you are on the roads, traffic is almost always congested. Especially in Los Angeles. I see so many people on the road on their phones, putting makeup on, even doing their hair. Below, I am going to go over how to safely avoid driving distractions. If you have been injured in an accident, contact a car crash lawyer at Silverthorne Attorneys. Consultations with a car accident attorney in our office are free!
Car Crash Lawyer | Avoiding Distractions
There are countless dangers of texting while driving. However, it seems that those dangers and the California Hands-Free Law has not done much to dissuade drivers from texting and driving. Below are some helpful tips to safely avoid driving distractions.
Turn Your Phone Off (Or Use It Just in Case of Emergencies)
Let’s face it. Unless there is an emergency situation, there really is no need for us to be on our phones while we are driving. Even so, during those situations it is best to pull over safely to answer the call. I know most people are not very fond of turning their phones off while driving. to be honest, I don’t. There are (rare) occasions when I put my phone on “Do Not Disturb.” but even hands-free devices can still cause a distraction that can potentially be the reason for your accident. Having a conversation while on your cell phone can be distracting even if you are using blue-tooth devices. I will use myself as an example. Having bought a new car, I have Bluetooth capabilities that allows me to make calls while I am driving. My sister called me the other day when I was on my way home from work and as we were talking, I got so distracted by the conversation that I did not notice that traffic ahead of me was slowing down. Luckily, I was able to stop in just enough time to not hit the person in front of me and the person behind me was following a good ways away from me.
Avoid Multitasking
I know this can be extremely difficult to do; especially if you have little ones in the car. My sister is a mother of three and her two youngest are under 12. So there are definitely times when she gets distracted when they are arguing or not paying attention.
Other ways to reduce multitasking include:
- Pre-setting your favorite radio stations;
- Load your favorite CD before you start driving;
- If you have Bluetooth and you can stream music, pick a playlist and try to stick to it.
- Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, etc.;
- Set up your GPS;
These are just a few suggestions. I know they seem to be a little out of the ordinary and can make people uncomfortable. People in Southern California spend a great deal of time in their car, so why not take this time to try to relax and unwind from the rest of the stressors of life. Focus on the road and the drivers around you. Some things can wait.
If You’re Tired, Pull Over
Did you know that accidents due to tired drivers are only second behind drunk drivers? Driving tired can increase your risk of crashing by nearly four times. a recent study shows that nearly 37% of U.S. drivers have nodded off or have fallen asleep at least once since getting their license. If you ever feel tired, pull over for a little bit and rest. Even if that means you have to take a nap in the parking lot of a gas station. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Allow Your Passengers to Do the Work
If you have passengers who are old and mature enough, let them handle text messages, GPS directions, find the radio station, etc. Your job is to focus on the road and getting to your destination safely. It will give them something to do and will take the distractions off of your plate.
Studies have shown that people’s attention span is limited. in order to accommodate the multiple demands that naturally occur while driving, people are forced to shift their attention elsewhere. That is why driving free of distractions is so important.
Distractions play a big role in car accidents and modern technology has come into play in the majority of these accidents. It the responsibility of every driver to keep our roads safe.
Suffering From Injuries? Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today!
Suffering from injuries due to the negligent actions of another can be very stressful. However, hiring an attorney should not be. Your car crash lawyer can help navigate the legal system and deal with insurance adjusters so you don’t have to. Every car accident attorney in our office believes that your sole focus after an accident should be on healing. Dealing with pesky insurance adjusters who will try to bully you out of a decent settlement is something we will handle. We will make sure to get you the settlement you and your family need in order to recover your damages.
If you are in need of a car accident attorney, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your case. Consultations are free!
