April is a busy month! Were you aware that April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month? This is a new one for me 🌞
What is Distracted Driving?
April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This nationwide effort aims to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and encourage drivers to stay focused on the road.
Distracted driving is a serious issue, leading to thousands of fatalities and injuries each year. It’s any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, including using a phone, eating, drinking, or fiddling with car controls.
Cell phone use is a major contributor, with texting being particularly dangerous. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
Photo by Michael Kahn on Unsplash
Facts and Laws
Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,275 lives in 2023. NHTSA leads the national effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior. Get the facts, get involved, and help us keep America’s roads safe.
Your state legislature and governor make the laws regarding distracted driving. Many states now have laws against texting, talking on a cell phone, and other distractions while driving. You can visit the Governors Highway Safety Association to learn about the laws in your state.
Despite widespread regulations, there are still state-by-state variations. For example, some states enforce stricter penalties for violations, including hefty fines or even license suspensions for repeat offenders. States like California and New York have some of the most comprehensive distracted driving laws.
At a federal level, distracted driving laws have become more stringent, particularly targeting texting and phoning while driving. Most states have outlawed texting while driving, and some have implemented hands-free device mandates to reduce the dangers associated with using a phone while driving. These laws aim to minimize distractions and keep drivers focused on the road, helping to prevent accidents caused by mobile device usage.
Types of Distracted Driving
Cell phone usage and texting while driving. Cell phone use, particularly texting while driving, remains the most dangerous form of distracted driving, per the Defensive Drivers Institute. In 2024, approximately 30% of all distracted driving crashes involved a driver using their phone.
Activities such as using cell phones, texting, or emailing while driving require visual, manual, and cognitive attention, making them especially hazardous and increasing the risk of serious accidents. To stay safe, drivers must give their full attention to the road and eliminate distractions to reduce these risks.
In-vehicle technology as a distraction. While mobile phones are the most obvious distraction, in-vehicle technology is an increasingly significant contributor to distracted driving. Touchscreen controls, navigation systems, and infotainment features can all take a driver’s attention away from the road.
Whether using a cell phone or interacting with in-vehicle technology, these distractions significantly increase the risk of a crash. Crashes involving distracted drivers continue to rise as more technology is integrated into vehicles, highlighting the need for greater focus on road safety.
Passengers contribute to distracted driving. Passengers can also play a role in distracting the driver. Conversations, arguments, or simply having children in the motor vehicle can divert a driver’s attention and lead to dangerous situations on the road.
In some cases, distractions caused by passengers can be as hazardous as drunk driving or drinking and driving, increasing the risk of accidents significantly. Many accidents involving distracted driving occur when the driver becomes distracted while driving due to passenger interactions, further emphasizing the need for full focus on the road at all times.
Increased Insurance
I was curious about the impact of distracted driving on insurance rates. Lo and behold, insurance rates are impacted!
There are a few ways distracted driving incidents impact insurance. And, it’s important to remember that insurance rates are also influenced by other factors, including driving history, age, and location.
Distracted Driving Impact to Insurance
- Increased Accident Risk
- Higher Claims because of more accidents
- Driving Record Impact
- Tickets and Fines because of texting and driving
- Increased Premiums per Insurance.com
Distracted Driving Impacts All Ages
Distracted driving is a problem for all drivers. Still, younger drivers, particularly teens and young adults, are more susceptible to using phones while driving. In comparison, older drivers may experience cognitive or physical declines that impact their ability to handle distractions.
- Younger Drivers: Teenagers and young adults are statistically more likely to be involved in distracted driving accidents due to factors like the allure of smartphones and the developing prefrontal cortex, which makes them less able to resist the temptation to use their phones while driving.
- Older Drivers: As people age, cognitive function (like reaction time and attention span) and physical abilities (like vision and hearing) can decline, making them more vulnerable to distractions that can increase their risk of accidents. While older drivers may not use phones as frequently while driving, other distractions like adjusting the radio, eating, or even daydreaming can still be problematic.
Important Tasks and Other Distractions
Do you ever wish you had a Do Not Disturb sign you could use throughout the day to minimize distractions? During this distracted driving awareness month, pay attention to distractions while driving and throughout your day!
Other distractions can negatively impact the ability to complete important tasks during your day(s). Other distractions can lead to:
- Constant interruptions and distractions can lead to overwhelm and stress, making it difficult to manage work effectively.
- Distractions can also negatively impact overall well-being by affecting mental and physical health.
- Distractions can be a trigger for procrastination, leading to the avoidance of important tasks.
- Distractions disrupt the flow of work and make it harder to maintain concentration, leading to longer task completion times.
ARGH! Distractions are real in life! It can be so easy to jump from one thing to another. If distractions are preventing you from your life planning tasks, I invite you to contact me. We can structure monthly plans for you to chip away at the tasks involved with contingency planning!
Send me an Email or Book Time with Lynn if you have any questions. For additional information about my work, check out @ The Living Planner or @ The Living Planner.
If you’re up for planning your life’s administrative side, consider my book as a resource. The Living Planner What to Prepare Now While You Are Living © Check it out HERE.
Quote for the week: “Work is hard. Distractions are plentiful and time is short”– Adam Hochschild
One thing at a time❣️ Lynn
#PlanfortheUnplanned #Can’tPredictCanPrepare