April is… Distracted Driving Awareness Month

2018-04-19
By: Denise Koslowsky

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April is Distracted Driving Month and all of us here at Advocate Brokerage are fully on board with the National Safety Council’s JUST DRIVE campaign.

Traffic accidents are quickly on the rise and distracted driving is a key reason.  According to the National Safety Council in 2017 alone over 40,000 people were killed last year from accidents and distracted driving was a huge cause.

The National Safety Council estimates that 26% of all crashes involve the use of a cell phone.

While we all know the dangers of driving distracted, there are approximately 660,000 drivers using cell phones while driving during daylight hours each and every day.  That creates a substantial increase in the risks for each one of us.

What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is defined as the act of driving while engaging in other activities.  It is a broad term but it is most often applied to:

  • Using a mobile device
  • Texting
  • Eating or drinking
  • Talking to passengers
  • Grooming
  • Reading (including maps)
  • Using a navigation system
  • Watching videos
  • Adjusting the radio, CD, or MP3 players

According to Travelers risk assessment team, 26% of people who admit to distracted driving believe they do so safely.

Given the risks of driving distracted, it just isn’t worth it. Choose to keep your cell phone in your bag and out of reach so that you will not be tempted to look at it when you hear the sound of a text coming in.  If you need to take a call, safely pull over and have your conversation before pulling back on to the road.  Stay Safe and encourage your children to do the same.

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What’s the bottom line?

Be mindful.
Be focused.
Just Drive.

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