Three Easy Ways to Avoid Distracted Driving

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Distracted Driving Accidents

It is hard to ignore overwhelming motor vehicle accident statistics. The Illinois State Police report that driver inattention is a primary factor in more than 1 million car crashes every year. That is a hefty statistic, and one we should not take lightly. The sad reality is a number of these accidents can be prevented.

Due to the various types of technology so easily accessible to us today, however, it can be difficult to prevent these incidents. We live in a fast, digital age where much of our lives revolve around mobile devices and advanced car audio, voice recognition, and Bluetooth systems.

Our devices are only one part of the problem. We are distracted by all sorts of actions out on the road. It is not a perfect world; we cannot put a stop to distracted driving entirely. We can, however, make individual efforts to be proactive and prevent those accident statistics from rising.

Pull Over

Whether you make a phone call, write a text, need to attend to your children, or eat a meal on the go, make the choice to pull over. It doesn’t take long to find a safe place to pull over and park, and you could be saving a life — maybe even your own — by taking the time to take care of business on the side of the road.

Just Say No

When you are alerted to that phone call or text, you can make the choice to simply say “no.” Whether the message or call is regarding business or personal matters, you do not have to answer immediately. Wait until you arrive at your destination to respond. In the majority of situations, not answering immediately will not have a negative impact. It is not the end of the world if you miss a call.

Prioritize

Running late and need to program or assemble your GPS? Forget to pack a lunch and now you are rushing to work, trying to hurry and eat a meal behind the wheel? Make it a point to reprioritize. Spending even a few extra minutes to leave the house early so you have time to set up the GPS or eat a meal before you hit the road can significantly reduce your chances of causing an accident.

Despite our best efforts, distracted driving will always be an issue out on the road. If you find yourself in a vehicle accident that was caused by someone’s inattention, an experienced Lake County vehicle accident attorney can help you face the aftermath. Call Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free consultation today.

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