Avoid Car Insurance Claims: Don’t Drive Distracted

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In recent years, over 30 states have passed laws banning texting or cell phone use while driving.  These laws were passed as a direct result of distracted drivers causing accidents and endangering other drivers.  Other drivers drive distracted while applying makeup, eating or smoking while behind the wheel.  Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel and your attention away from driving is dangerous.  Here are some helpful tips to avoid a car accident claim in the new year:

Safe Cell Phone Use

Never text on your phone while driving.  Know your cell phones features before you take it in your car.  If you have to make a call, ask a passenger to call for you.  If you don’t have a passenger and must use your cell phone in the car, pull over to the side of the road and make a quick call.  If you live in a state that allows cell phone use while driving, use speaker phone to keep both hands on the wheel.  Never have an emotional phone call while driving and keep your calls in the car infrequent.  Always let the person on the other end of the call know you are driving so they will also keep it short. 

Don’t Let Your Car Be a Distraction

Be sure to set climate control, GPS devices and radio stations before you start driving.  If you need to put in a destination on your GPS device, have a passenger put in an address or pull off to the side of the road to  add the address to your GPS device.  Secure items such as a cell phone, video game or GPS device that may move around in the car and distract you. 

Safe Personal Habits

Avoid drinking, eating, reading and smoking while driving.  Do not make business calls or take notes while driving.  Also, don’t put on makeup, groom your hair or look at your phone while on the road.   If you need to tend to children, pull off to the side of the road.  Review maps and directions before heading to a new destination.  Remember that driving safely requires your full attention, if you find your mind wandering off, you may want to pull over to get gas, eat or make a quick phone call.  If you can’t pull off the road, remind yourself to stay alert and to concentrate on driving.

Distracted driving can take your eyes and attention off the road.  To stay safe and avoid accidents, make sure you keep your focus on driving and, if you find yourself distracted, don’t hesitate to pull off the road and address whatever is distracting you instead of risking an accident.

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