Toolbox Talk: CAR SAFETY: DISTRACTIONS FACED
Driving is hazardous enough as it is being surrounded by massive pieces of metal moving at high rates of speed. You can’t afford to take your eyes off the road. Every day it seems as if there’s a new way of distracting yourself while driving however. When cars were first invented, they were bare bones vehicles designed for one thing – to get you rapidly from one place to another. It wasn’t long before the first AM radio appeared in cars, which made long trips more pleasant. Then came FM radio, then 8 track players and cassettes, then compact discs. About fifteen years ago, cell phones become much more affordable and you began to see more and more drivers with one. Now they’re in almost every car. Then came mp3 players. That was followed by the craze of text messaging with cell phones. And now, car makers offer DVD players in the back seats for the kids as standard equipment on some models, and more and more people are having them installed up front so they can watch TV while they drive!
Notebook computers and wireless internet have made it possible to use computers and actually surf the internet while driving. These are all things that take your focus off of the road, and many of them are so dangerous that it makes you wonder about the sanity of a person who would try them while driving. The idea that someone can safely operate an automobile while watching a movie, sending a text message, or surfing the internet is ludicrous. It’s also very deadly.
Avoiding Distractions
• Start with the basics and drive defensively. Make it your goal to have a “perfect” trip.
• Don’t turn your head to talk or look at scenery or another person.
• Don’t fool with the radio or other nonessential equipment. When driving in unfamiliar areas, turn off the radio for maximum concentration.
• Pull over at a safe location to use your cell phone.
• Keep your eyes on the road to look out for adventurous pedestrians who dash or walk leisurely into the path of your vehicle.
• Personal grooming and reading are obvious no-no’s.
• Experts say we eat one in ten restaurant meals in our automobile, often while weaving through traffic. Don’t eat or drink while you drive.
• If you don’t know exactly where you’re going, get directions before you leave. Don’t slow down and look side to side you will create a hazard on the road.
• If you need to reach into your purse or briefcase, pull over. The same applies to dealing with troublesome children.
• Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may be distracting.
• Illness is a distraction. When you’re sick, your reflexes are slower than normal and your senses may be fogged. Consider staying home until you are alert.
• Read the labels on medications and talk to the pharmacist. Many medications such as antihistamines can make you dizzy or drowsy.
“You are not required to carry the whole burden, nor are you permitted to put down your share!” _Warren Buffett
