With Spring warming up (and here’s to hoping we don’t get any more snow) April is distracted Driving Awareness month. Each year thousands of people are killed and many more are injured because of distracted driving. It isn’t always the person who is driving distracted who is injured in these accidents, but sadly an innocent person in another vehicle.
While distracted driving does include texting while driving, which is what most people think of when they hear “distracted driving,” many other actions can distract drivers that they may not think about while they’re doing it.
Other things that can distract drivers:
- Hands free phone calls or texting
- Loud music
- GPS systems
- Eating or drinking
- Passengers
- Applying make-up
Many people think that hands free calling and texting is safe. Although it is safer than using your phone in your hand to call or text it is still a distraction from driving. Any activity that takes your focus away from the road, even talking over a Bluetooth headset, increases your chances of being in an accident.
By avoiding these dangerous activities and focusing on the road, you’ll make the trip much safer for yourself, and everyone around you. All of us here at O’Connor Law hope you’ll be safe in your travels this summer.