Distractions on the road injure over 1,000 people in the United States every day. Driving is dangerous enough when someone else is on their cellphone and struggling to drive a straight line. When you’re distracted—whether by a passenger, a pet, a cellphone, or something else—the risk is much higher.
Of all the types of distracted driving, cellphones get the most attention. Yet, this sometimes means that drivers fail to recognize other kinds of distractions.
Knowing distracted driving facts and how to avoid other hazards is vital. Here are three easy tips on how to keep focus on the road.
- Get a Good Night’s Sleep to Prevent Distracted Driving
Distracted driving isn’t always caused by something or someone else. Anything that keeps your mind off the road counts as a kind of distraction.
When you’re on a road trip, it’s tempting to push yourself and drive all night. Hotels are expensive and you want to arrive as fast as you can. But did you know that a lack of sleep is as dangerous as driving drunk?
Making sure you’re well-rested is a great way to keep your mind where it should be—on the road in front of you.
- Secure Your Animals in the Car
We love our furry friends like family and want them to do everything we do. So, why not put your dog in the front seat? There’s a good reason why not: loose animals in the car are a huge distraction.
A pet climbing into your lap or wreaking havoc in the back seat keeps your mind and eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel. It might seem mean, but putting your pet in a travel carrier is nicer than letting them run loose. Securing your pets protects you, them, and everyone else on the road from needless accidents.
- Have Your Playlist Ready to Go
You shouldn’t start a dance party while zipping down the highway, but there’s nothing wrong with listening to music in the car. Still, be careful: fiddling with Spotify, CDs, or even the car radio at the wrong moments causes devastating wrecks.
If you’re going on a long drive and anticipate changing your music, one way to avoid this issue is by putting together a driving playlist. If you use CDs, consider investing in a CD changer for your stereo or have your front seat passenger switch the discs. If you can’t avoid it, at least wait until you’re stopped before skipping through your library.
The News You Need to Keep You and Your Pets Safe
Distracted driving causes thousands of accidents daily, but you don’t need to be part of that statistic. With these three tips, you know how to keep you and your furry friends safe from danger on the road.
Travel safety is important, but we know you want to keep your animals safe no matter where you are. Lucky for you, we have all kinds of tips about pet health and more right here. Take a look around the site and make a better life for you and your critters today.