April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Take the pledge to put down the phone, focus on the road, and save lives.
As technology evolves so do the distractions. But distracted driving is not limited to technology, there are many types of distractions that could get your mind and eyes off the road and put your life and other’s lives in danger. Practicing safe driving habits like staying focused on the roads could save your, or someone else’s, life.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) manages Distracted Driving Awareness Month as a way to bring awareness and educate people about the dangers of distracted driving. According to their official website:
- – 3,142 LIVES LOST IN CRASHES INVOLVING DISTRACTED DRIVERS IN 2019 — THAT’S 3,142 TOO MANY
- – 9 % FATAL CRASHES IN 2019 THAT INVOLVED DISTRACTED DRIVERS
- – 26,000 + APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED IN CRASHES INVOLVING DISTRACTED DRIVERS FROM 2012-2019
These are no doubt sobering distracted driving statistics. So, how do you stop distracted driving? Get educated about the risks. Many of us underestimate the small actions we take while driving and don’t think we could be distracted by them. Keep in mind that no matter how small these actions seem or how little time they take, they could be deadly. If your eyes are off the road in a matter of a couple of seconds, it could lead to deadly consequences, or at the very least higher repair costs and auto insurance premiums.
Distracted Driving Awareness Month Distracted Driving Statistics
As if the previous statistics weren’t harrowing enough, the NHTSA website is filled with information worthy of a scared straight driver’s ed video. Here are some more distracted driving statistics from the NHTSA:
- – Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded.
- – Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use.
- – Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes.
- – In 2013, 3,154 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
- – In 2013, 424,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
- – Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times.
So take the pledge this April for Distracted Driving Awareness Month to build new focused safe driving habits that will last a lifetime and teach your kids to do the same. Put that phone away, wait until you reach a rest area to make that call or return that text or eat that burger! All of these things could wait for a safe opportunity because a lifetime of regrets is not worth it.
To learn how safe driving habits impact your auto policy, you can reach out to our team at Ashland Insurance online or give us a call!
541.482.0831 Ashland
541.857.0679 Medford