Distracted driving is an issue that is being addressed on both the state and federal levels in the trucking industry. As a trucking company, we have regular safety meetings, which gives us the opportunity to remind our drivers to be alert while driving. It is a good time to remind everyone, driver or not, to stay off their cell phones when at the wheel. This is a valuable tip for everyone! You don’t have to be a professional driver and all drivers should know better than to be on their cell phone or texting while driving. Some states will ticket you if you are not using a hands-free device when operating a cell phone.
Please remember to stay off your phone (talking, dialing or texting) while you are driving!
There are three types of distraction while driving:
Distracted driving can be defined as anything that takes your attention away from driving. Texting, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving all fall under the distracted driving category and any of these distractions can endanger the driver and others.
The numbers don’t lie - Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
Distracted driving accounts for a large percentage of fatalities, up to 10% of all motor vehicle deaths. They account for a good number of injuries as well.
As mentioned earlier, there are steps being taken to help tackle the distracted driver problem. There are now 14 states and the District of Columbia who have banned drivers from hand-held phone use. Plus 46 states and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving. These are great steps taken to eliminate the problem.
Keep the football field visual in mind –
→ 5 seconds of taking your eyes off the road
→ at 55 MPH
→ you will have traveled the entire length of a football field
→ at the equivalent of driving with your eyes closed
Read more on this topic.
Simply stated – remove all your distractions when you are driving. You should work to be 100% alert when you are behind the wheel.
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