Tips to avoid distracted driving
April 01, 2023
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts attention from driving. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and you can make a difference on the road by driving without distractions.
3 types of distracted driving and how to avoid them
Visual: looking away from the road
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Program your GPS navigation before you start driving
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Put your phone in do not disturb and wait to read texts, emails and other phone communications until you arrive safely at your destination
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Check for needed items prior to your trip. Do not look around the interior of your vehicle after you begin driving
Manual: taking your hands off the steering wheel
- Plan to have meals during breaks, before or after driving
- Complete personal grooming, such as combing your hair or applying makeup, before driving or after reaching your destination
- Avoid adjusting vehicle settings while in motion
Cognitive: thinking about anything other than driving
- Conversations with passengers or on the phone, including hands-free, can cause your mind to wonder from the task of safe driving
- Avoid daydreaming and drowsy driving
- Keep music or other audio turned off or at a low volume to avoid losing focus on the road
Any combination of these types of distracted driving increases your risk of collision. Make the commitment to drive distraction-free to help keep our roads safe.
Based on a recent study by Element’s safety and collision experts, DriverCare CoPilot, our safety focused connectivity solution, improved compliance with phone distraction policy by 75% among deficient drivers.
Contact Element Fleet Management today to learn more about DriverCare CoPilot to help reduce fleet risk and related costs.
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