Most Common Driver Distractions
How To Stay Focused When Driving
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of motor vehicle crashes in Australia. If you drive distracted and do not focus on the road, your risk of being involved in car accidents skyrockets. Despite this, though, recent studies suggest that Australian drivers are distracted up to 45% of the time that they’re driving!
So, in this article, the team at LTrent Driving School will discuss the top causes of driver distraction – and how you can make sure you stay focused. Avoid car crashes and practice safe driving by avoiding these common issues!
- Using A Mobile Phone
Using a mobile phone in your car is extremely dangerous. In Australia, around 25% of all crashes involve mobile phone use. If you text while driving, check your email, look at social media or do anything else with your mobile smartphone while driving, you are putting yourself and other drivers at risk. Even simply reaching for your mobile phone increases your risk of an accident by up to 9 times.
Not only that, but you are breaking the law – and you could be penalized for it. You cannot use hand-held mobile phones while driving. You cannot even use your phone or other electronic device in hands-free mode.
Using mobile phones while driving is one of the most common causes of distracted driving accidents. Taking your eyes and hands off the wheel to look at your phone for just 2 seconds at 60 km/h means you won’t be looking at the road for 30 metres. Don’t use your phone. Not only is it unsafe, but it’s illegal.
- Adjusting Vehicle Settings While Driving
This is another common reason that drivers drive distracted. If you fiddle with the radio, adjust your climate control settings, look at your car’s GPS, or adjust your mirrors while driving, you’re taking your eyes off the road.
Try to make sure you’ve got all your settings adjusted before you start driving. And if you have a passenger and need to make adjustments, ask them to do it for you.
- Being Distracted By Passengers (Including Pets)
Adult passengers, kids and pets can all distract the driver of a car, and cause a collision. This is especially true for younger drivers who have one or more passengers in their car.
If you’re transporting passengers, do not let them distract you from the road. Focus on driving, and don’t look elsewhere.
- Eating And Drinking In Your Car
Think twice before you pop open a snack or a drink in your car. According to a study done in the United States, drivers who are eating or drinking in the car are 3.6x more likely to get into an accident than drivers who were focusing only on driving.
- Looking At Yourself In Your Mirror
We’ve all done it – taken our eyes off the road to check out our reflection in our rearview mirror or sun visor mirror. But remember, every second you look away from the road while travelling at 60 km/h means you travel 15 meters – even just looking at yourself for a few seconds could lead to a dangerous situation!
Avoid Distractions And Drive Safely With These Tips!
When it comes to causing serious traffic accidents, distracted driving is nearly as dangerous as drink driving. So when you’re behind the wheel, focus on what’s in front of you – for your safety, the safety of your passengers, and the safety of others on the road. Want to learn more about driving safely? Visit LTrent Driving School now to enroll in a Safer Driving Course!