Safe Driving Spotlight

Cell Phone Disruptions
Cell phones and texting contribute to many accidents by taking the driver’s focus away from driving. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, texting while driving increases the likelihood of an accident by 23 times. The time required to send a text is equivalent to driving blind for 5 seconds, during which a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour could travel the length of a football field.

Distracted Driving
Distracted driving describes anything that takes the driver’s attention away from operating the vehicle, such as scanning music stations or using a cell phone. It also includes external diversions including, turning to glare at another driver, gawking at a near-accident and watching police activity. Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents. The largest study on distracted drivers shows that more accidents are caused by drivers who are rubbernecking than by drivers who were distracted by passengers, radios, or cell phones. Minimizing distractions inside the car can help reduce the risk of an accident. Both hands should be kept on the wheel. Eyes and full attention should be focused on the road.