As I have gotten older and my list of responsibilities has increased, I have noticed there are truly not enough hours in a single day. It always seems there is so much to do and so little time to get it done. As human beings we tend to be natural born multi-taskers. Regardless of where we are or what we may be doing there is always that itch to do more than one thing at once. This includes at home, in the office, and most importantly within our vehicles as we commute each day. In the car there are distractions all around making it hard to focus on one thing or the road in front of us. Distracted driving is the result of any activity or engagement that causes you to take your attention off of the road and away from the task of operating your vehicle with care.
Unfortunately, distracted driving is something I am all too familiar with. Earlier this year I was involved in an unexpected car accident just minutes from my home. After making a short trip to the grocery store I went to take the usual left turn into my neighborhood. The light was green and I proceeded to follow the vehicle in front of me as we were heading in the same direction. At the same time the car on the opposite side of the intersection had accelerated in hopes of getting through the red light before we had all begun to turn. He failed and as a result my car was hit almost head on.
While he walked away with not a single scratch I was left with severe burns on both of my arms and a bruised shoulder. Not to mention my car was declared totalled. It was the most traumatizing experience and I was thankful my daughter was not in the backseat. Luckily at the moment of my accident there was an officer across the road waiting for his light to change as well. He witnessed everything and issued the driver a citation for speeding. In a 25 MPH speed zone he was going fast enough to uproot the nearby yield sign that was encased by concrete. When asked by the officer what happened his answer was simple, “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Taking your eyes off of the road for a single moment can be the cause of a potential accident and affect your own life as well as others. Some of the forms of distracted driving include talking on the phone, texting, adjusting the navigation system, and fumbling through belongings. All of these things can be prevented and the best method to do so is to share what you know with those around you. Knowledge is power.
Always keep in mind that the most advanced safety feature of any vehicle is the driver. Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Auto Alliance encourage awareness in hopes that drivers everywhere will do their part in making the roads safer. Set the example and spread the word about the Decide to Drive program which empowers drivers and passengers to speak up about distracted driving. Whether you discuss the topic with family or co-workers, educate them with the facts and support this cause with passion.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
I don't ever text and drive, but I do find that sometimes I end up going off in a daydream and all of the sudden I will be somewhere and have no idea how I got there.
My biggest distraction while driving is my kids. I'm constantly having to tell them I can't do whatever they want because I have to pay attention to the road.
This is SUCH a danger. Hubs sat down with me at dinner the other day and said that his phone was staying in his pocket unless he was parked, or had an earpiece in. I was REALLY proud of him. He is so tempted with work to keep checking in.
Yikes glad you were not more seriously hurt.I see so many drivers texting,talking on the phone doing so many things other than concentrating on driving.
It really does only take a second for something to go wrong. I think it's important to reiterate that to my kids (the ones driving anyway) from time to time. Some things just can't be said enough.
wow! It is getting to be a bigger problem everyday. It is so important to let kids know this
Those are tips. We all need to be better about keeping our eyes on the road.
This post is so very true! I can't believe all of the stuff people do while driving (including me sometimes). I have refilled a sippy cup while driving. Once you become a mommy, the doing while driving gets even worse. It's so important to focus on the road.
I don't text and drive, but I totally understand the distracted driving. I can easily be distracted by my son in the back seat or by the radio. It's tough to deal with (and I try not even to talk on the phone while driving. It's so easy to block out traffic around you!)
So important to keep eyes on the road. Looking away just for a sec can change lives.
So very important to keep your eyes on the road. Looking somewhere else just for a sec can change lives forever.
It's really important to pay attention while driving! Only a second can change EVERYTHING!
It's scary how easy it is from something to go wrong. I try very hard to remind my kids that when we are in the car, driving safely is my number one priority.
It's really terrifying! I don't necessarily think of the radio as a distraction, but I notice that when I'm really focused on finding an address or following directions, I turn it off so I guess it IS.
What an important campaign! It is easy to get distracted, we all need to remember lives are at stake.
I try to always give driving 100% of my attention. The older I get the more I realize the importance of being safe 100% fo the time!
I'm glad you weren't hurt too badly. What a horrible experience!
That is so scary! I am glad you weren't more seriously hurt! Like Liz, I never thought of the radio as a distraction, but now that I think of it, I do take my eyes off the road every so often to change the station. I need to pay better attention!
I need more hours in my day as well, but doing it while driving isn't an option. Nothing makes me more angry than someone eating or putting on their make-up while behind the wheel. They aren't only risking their safety, but those around them too.
Great Infographic. Yea, so sad how many folks I see texting and driving. Seeing older folks as well drives me crazy and I am afraid they will swerve into me.
Your accident- wow, how scary! I would be furious that someone just wasn't paying attention.
I'll admit that I used to glance at my phone while driving, checking texts or emails, etc. And then I realized that what if I got into an accident because of whatever that was I was looking at on the screen. Is there any email, tweet, fb update, text that would be important enough that I could justify killing someone else or myself? Of course not. That's kept my phone out of my hand while driving.
Thank you for this important post. It is so hard not to be distracted when you are driving with children. I have to constantly be aware.
I think that it is an important post for all drivers- not just the new ones. There are a lot of people all up in arms about texting and driving- that is just the newest distraction!
You poor thing! How scary! I'm so glad you walked away from that accident. Distracted driving is so scary!
~Amanda
Oh my goodness, I'm glad that you're ok! Too much distracted drivers today…terrible!
Car accidents are really scary and I truly hope I never get into a really bad one…especially not into the hand of a distracted driver. I will admit I do get distracted myself at time but I do try to be more careful because its not worth it!
Oh my gosh, how scary! So glad you are ok after that accident!
oh my I am so glad you are ok. How scary and these things happen so many times a day. My kids are a big distraction for me. I just need to learn to keep my eyes on the road.
Great post– so sorry to hear about your accident. i'm glad that everyone was ok!
Driving scares me sometimes especially on crazy Florida highways (I know you can relate!). I'm glad you are okay!
Omg! I am glad you are okay now, and things was not worse! When I was like 11 my mom and dad drove ice cream trucks it was their business. But my mom was on her normal route and this guy was in a pickup truck and he was drinking and slammed into my mom. it sent her freezer flying into her seat and it pinned her in the truck! I was so scared!
It's crazy to think of how often we do all of these things in our cars. We are all accidents waiting to happen.
So glad that you came through that but sorry you suffered those injuries. My son was broadsided in a similar situation but the driver took off. Fortunately he was not hurt but his car was totaled. It is so important to just drive and not do anything else. This is a great post with a lot of great reminders and info.
Wow that is intense – I'm glad you're okay! I have to admit there have been a couple of times where I thought: I just got really lucky there because I was adjusting navigation/radio and noticed something happening just in time to stop it.
That is so scary. I am glad you are okay! It's nuts to think how being distracted for just one second can seriously harm someone.
It's amazing how distracted people can get while driving. My husband lost his dog when he was a kid because a woman was driving past their house doing her mascara and she swerved into their yard hitting their dog. Amazingly she didn't even stop she just kept going, it's so scary when you think about it because that could have been him!
glad you're ok. It's so easy to get distracted these days.
So glad you're OK!!! I think many time we forget what a huge responsibility driving really is. It's not something to take lightly and even the smallest distraction can be disastrous.
Your article was very insightful. I couldn't tell you how often I have the same distractions while on the road. I'm sure we are a little guilty of doing most of these.
Gosh I'm so sorry to hear about your accident but glad to hear you were okay, despite the injuries. This is a great post, I hope more people start taking this seriously.