Tool Box Talk: Drive Distraction FREE

“Drive Distraction FREE”

Have a friends and family plan. Make friends, family and managers aware of your drive-time schedule and commit to pull over to update them should you be delayed beyond a specified window of time.

If driving for an extended period, pull over to check messages at certain times to create an acceptable window for response times.

Fine tune your tunes. Digital music devices (iPods, MP3 players) can pose a major distraction. Pre-set a driving playlist to provide continuous tunes without the need for adjustments.

Be a part of the solution. If you call someone’s cell phone, ask if they are driving. If the answer is “yes,” ask them to call you back when they have safely reached their destination.

X your Texts. If you are in a texting “conversation” and become aware that the person you are texting with is driving, stop the exchange immediately until they are in a position to resume it safely.

It goes without saying that YOU should never text and drive.

See the big picture.

Making or receiving a phone call while driving puts you at four times greater risk of being involved in a crash.

Take a moment to focus on those who are counting on you to get home safely every day before you make a choice to divert your full attention from the road.

Clear the clutter. Driving a clean, well-organized car will help clear your mind enabling you to better focus on the road.

GOT TEENS?

It is particularly important to set a safe example for young drivers. You may not think that they pay attention to you, but a survey released this year by Consumer Reports reveals otherwise:

• 48% of teens witnessed their mom or dad talking on a handheld phone while driving.
• 15% witnessed their mom or dad texting while behind the wheel.
• 71% say they have seen someone their age texting while behind the wheel.

Establish rules

• There is growing research indicating that the young drivers who engage less frequently in risky driving behavior are those who spend the most time talking about driving with their parents.
• For 16 and 17-year-olds, carrying just one teen passenger increases their risk of being involved in a fatal crash by almost 50%; having three or more teen passengers triples the risk as compared to driving alone or with an adult passenger.

Establish a parent-teen driving contract that incorporates rules and strict consequences for using a mobile device while driving and carrying teen passengers.

GOT KIDS OR GRANDKIDS?

• Assign kids the task of looking out for other drivers who appear to be distracted and discuss what they see. This is a great awareness activity for kids as they grow to become drivers themselves and will help you stay tuned in to your driving environment.
• Provide children with things to do (books, travel games, etc.) to distract them, so they’re not distracting you. If old enough, they can even keep busy on your Smartphone using apps of your choice, putting your phone in their hands, not yours.
• Remember they’ll do what you do.

Even if your kids are far from the driving age, demonstrate now the behavior you’ll expect later on from them.

Set the right example concerning the use of cell phones and texting while driving and make your priority getting everyone to their destination safely.

“He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times.”— JohannVon Schiller

Thanks for the share, TO!