April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Distracted driving is any activity that could divert your attention away from the main task of driving. Distracted driving is something that is both dangerous and disturbingly common. In fact the AAA foundation found, drivers spend more than half of their time focused on things other than driving.
Distracted Driving doesn't just include texting. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) distracted driving is defined as any activity that diverts attention from driving, including:
Talking or texting on your phone,
Eating and drinking,
Talking to people in your vehicle,
Or fiddling with the sound, entertainment or navigation system
Anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.
Here are 8 tips on minimizing your risk:
Wear your seatbelt
Leave room between your vehicle and the one in front of you
Plan ahead and allow extra travel time
Observe speed limits, including lower speeds in work zones
Avoid distracted driving: eating, phones and pets can be distracting
Have a plan for roadside assistance
Update your proof of insurance
Use safe phone habits