Preventing and Managing Distractions

Preventing and managing distractions.

The key to preventing becoming distracted is to prepare as much as possible before you drive. With a little forethought, you can anticipate potential distractions and address them before getting behind the wheel. Despite your best efforts, distractions can arise while driving. Handling distractions effectively is critical to minimizing your risk. Techniques for preventing and managing distractions include:

• Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s features and equipment before you get behind the wheel.
• Preset radio stations, podcast app playlist, and climate control.
• Secure items that may move around when the car is in motion.
• Do not text message, access the internet, watch video, play video games, search MP3 devices, or use any other distracting technology while driving.
• Avoid smoking, eating, drinking, and reading while driving.
• Review maps and driving directions before operating your motor vehicle.
• Pull safely off the road and out of traffic to attend to children or passengers.
• Monitor traffic conditions before engaging in activities that could divert attention away from driving.
• Ask a passenger to help you with activities that may be distracting.
• Recognizing driving requires your full attention. If you find your mind wandering, remind yourself to stay focused on the road.

Wireless Communication Device (Cell Phone/Smartwatch).

The first tip is: Do not use a wireless communication device while driving. But if you must:

• Familiarize yourself with the features of your wireless communication device before you get behind the wheel.
• Use message-taking functions and return calls when you are stopped at a safe location.
• Use the wireless communication device only when necessary. Limit casual conversations to times when you are not operating a motor vehicle.
• Plan your conversation in advance and keep it short — especially in hazardous conditions such as inclement weather or heavy traffic.
• Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving.
• Emotions can impact a driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Pull off the road to a safe spot before continuing this type of conversation.
• Do not combine distracting activities such as talking on your wireless communication device while driving, eating, and adjusting the audio system.
• Ask a passenger in the car to place the call for you and, if possible, speak in your place.
• Secure your wireless communication device in the car so that it does not become a projectile object in a crash.

Remember, driving requires your full attentiveness.

You have learned it involves more than controlling the vehicle and keeping it on the road. Driving involves searching where you plan to go, identifying problems and potential conflicts, making decisions on what you perceive, judging what may occur and carrying out appropriate actions. To do all of this competently and safely you must stay focused and avoid distractions. When you do anything else while you are driving, you increase risk to yourself and others.

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