Distracted driving is a serious issue in Texas and throughout the country. However, there are a variety of proactive steps that you can take to ensure that you’re always paying attention to road conditions when your car is in motion. One of these steps will likely involve keeping your smartphone out of reach until arriving at your destination.
Why you should limit smartphone use while driving
A mobile device is capable of creating multiple distractions at once. For example, to answer a phone call, you’ll likely need to take your hands off of the steering wheel. Furthermore, you may need to take your eyes off of the road to see who is calling. It’s important to note that using a phone can be distracting even if you have a hands-free device. This is because the act of talking to another person can make it harder to process what’s going on outside of your vehicle.
Leave plenty of time to get ready before you leave home
Ideally, you will leave yourself enough time to get dressed, eat breakfast and have a cup of coffee before you get in the car. Doing so means that you won’t need to multitask while driving at 65 mph on a busy highway.
Don’t be complacent just because you know where you’re going
It’s easy to let your mind wander when you are familiar with the route that you’re about to take. However, it’s critical to find ways to stay mentally engaged with the world around you. According to various studies, car crashes are more likely to happen closer to home because you’re less vigilant about what is going on outside of your vehicle.