As we welcome the spring season, it’s important to remember that April is Distracted Driver Awareness Month. This annual initiative aims to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and encourage drivers to be more mindful and focused on the road. The campaign highlights the alarming statistics of road accidents caused by distracted driving and encourages drivers to take proactive measures to reduce the risk of such incidents.

April 2023 is Distracted Driver Awareness Month. This is intended to raise awareness of safe driving practices to decrease the number of on-the-road-related fatalities and injuries.

In 2020, 17 people were killed and 499 injured in road traffic collisions in Great Britain where the driver was using a mobile phone This compares with 55 deaths and 3,119 injuries in collisions where ‘distraction in vehicle’ was recorded as a contributory factor.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from driving, such as texting, eating, or adjusting the radio. While these activities may seem harmless, they can have serious consequences when done behind the wheel.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019 alone.

Why is distracted driving so dangerous?

When you take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel, you put yourself and others in danger. Even a split-second of distraction can lead to a serious accident. Additionally, distracted driving can cause you to miss important visual and auditory cues, such as traffic lights or honking horns, that could help you avoid an accident.

Distracted driving is any activity that may divert a driver’s attention from the road. Three main types of distractions can interfere with drivers’ attention.

1. Visual distractions – These distractions involve drivers taking their eyes off the road. For example reading a text message, focusing on other passengers in the vehicle, looking at a map or observing nearby activities while driving.
2. Manual distractions – Such distractions entail motorists taking their hands off the steering wheel. Some examples texting, adjusting the radio, eating, drinking, or performing personal grooming tasks such as applying makeup while driving.
3. Cognitive distractions – These distractions involve motorists taking their minds off driving. Cognitive distractions include talking on the phone, talking with other passengers, or daydreaming while driving.

How can you prevent distracted driving?

It’s essential to take steps to prevent distracted driving. Preventing distracted driving is not difficult, and it can save your life and others’ lives. Here are some tips to help you stay focused while driving. Distracted driving is any activity that may divert a driver’s attention from the road. Three main types of distractions can interfere with drivers’ attention.

1. 1. Put away your phone: Make sure you put your phone away before you start driving, and avoid using it while on the road. If you must make a call or send a text, pull over to a safe spot first.
   2. Plan ahead: Map out your route before you start driving, and ensure you have any necessary directions or maps at hand. This will help you avoid getting lost or distracted while driving.
   3. Avoid multitasking: Avoid eating, drinking, grooming, or doing anything else that takes your hands or eyes off the road while driving.
   4. Use voice commands: If your car has voice-activated features, use them to make calls, send texts, or adjust the radio without taking your hands off the wheel.
   5. Take breaks: If you’re feeling fatigued or drowsy, take a break and rest before continuing your journey.

Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves; they are a danger to everyone else on the road. The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness, and education.

Distracted Driver Awareness Month serves as a reminder that distracted driving is a serious issue that can have fatal consequences. As a driver, it’s your responsibility to stay focused and alert while on the road. By taking simple measures like putting away your phone, planning ahead, and avoiding multitasking, you can help make the road safer for everyone. Remember, it only takes a split second of distraction to cause a life-altering accident.