Are You a Distracted Driver?

Distracted driving is a real problem in the United States. There are so many things that can take our focus when we’re driving, and until self-driving cars become a reality, we are going to have to find ways to minimize the distractions.

Our previous blog listed 9 distractions that can affect driving safety. According to statistics, the most deadly distractions are associated with our cell phones. Besides texting and talking, drivers are inputting addresses into GPS, surfing the web, and even watching videos on their phones. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) reports that if you are traveling 55 mph and take your eyes off of the road for as little as 5 seconds–the average time it takes to text—you will be driving blind for the length of a football field. Would you ever voluntarily drive the length of a football field on the highway with a blindfold on?

Many people assume that it’s teenagers who are doing things like texting and driving. While that’s true, Texting and Driving Safety states that as many as 27% of adults admit to texting and driving. And the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that between 2013 and 2014, the percentage of all drivers visibly manipulating handheld devices increased from 1.7 to 2.2. According to a USA Today article in 2014, cell phones cause one in four accidents.

Don’t add to the statistics. Stay off your cell phone when you’re the driver. If you must talk on the phone, use Bluetooth. While it is still a distraction, it’s less dangerous than holding a cell phone. Put the GPS coordinates into your phone before you pull out into the street. And never surf the web, watch videos, or text while you drive.

At Accident and Injury Chiropractic, we want you to stay safe and focused whenever you’re behind the wheel. But if you are involved in an accident, come to the nearest Accident & Injury clinic to get your injuries taken care of immediately. We want to help you get back on the road, and when you are, we want to encourage you to stay off your cell phone.