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Operating a multi-ton vehicle requires full attention but it's common to see people eating, talking on the phone, texting, programming GPS devices, putting on make-up, reading, trying to keep children occupied – all while driving.
Three Seconds. That’s All it Takes.
A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study (PDF) found that driver distraction causes 80% of all crashes and 65% of all near-crashes. In 2009, 753 people died on the roadways of Virginia. There were more than 97,000 crashes and 50,000 people injured (preliminary data from DMV). Driver inattention was a leading factor in many of these crashes.
Know the number one source of driver inattention behind the wheel? Cell phone use.
Top 10 Tips to Minimize Distracted Driving
- CHANGE YOUR WAYS and recognize the activities that distract you; such as eating, conversing on the phone, or changing a CD.
- MAKE A PLAN. Get directions, study your route, check weather and road conditions. Make sure children are properly buckled up and occupied.
- MANAGE YOUR TIME so that you do not have to multi-task or drive aggressively on the road
- DON’T LET YOUR DRIVE TIME BECOME YOUR DOWN TIME
- SCAN the roadway to make sure that you are aware of others on the road at all times. Be prepared for the unpredictability of others.
- CONCENTRATE on your driving. Make sure that you are not upset or tired when getting on the road.
- PULL OVER to a safe place if you need to do something that will take your eyes and/or mind off of the road.
- REDUCE THE USE! Use GPS and other technology sensibly. Program devices before you hit the gas.
- TAKE A REFRESHER CLASS! A driver improvement class can raise your awareness and help you assess your driving behaviors
- BUCKLE UP, EVERY TRIP, EVERY TIME. Making sure that everyone is properly buckled up is the best defense against distracted drivers.
Take the pledge to drive distraction free at www.drivesmartva.org.
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