Today, there are more opportunities than ever to get distracted while driving. We have more gadgets in our cars, from GPS systems to satellite radios to vanity mirrors to seat warmers, and we do many things in our vehicles besides driving. We have drive-thru coffee shops and drive-thru restaurants, meaning we are eating in our cars. Along the highway, we have video billboards and phones on our dashboards that draw our eyes away from the road in front of us.
It’s no wonder many car companies – including Ford – have been developing sophisticated warning systems to help us avoid veering into other lanes or crashing into other vehicles. While these new safety capabilities may be helpful, you sometimes wonder if they are making us more complacent about the whole driving experience instead of making us safer.
The fact is, driving is a serious activity with potential life-and-death consequences that demands our full attention. After all, more distractions for us also mean more distractions for every other driver on the road, so vigilance is crucial. With more people populating our highways than ever, whenever we are in the car, we should refocus on our core responsibility: paying attention to driving and traffic.
At Mike White Ford, we prioritize your safety and urge you to stay watchful on the road. Let’s explore the perils of distracted driving and some essential steps to mitigate these risks.
Common Distractions
Distracted driving can take many forms, and understanding these common distractions is the first step towards safer roads. Some of the typical culprits include:
- Phone Calls: Receiving or making phone calls while driving can take your attention away from the road and compromise your reaction time.
- Eating and Drinking: Juggling a meal or a beverage behind the wheel can lead to reduced control and slower response in emergencies.
- Talking with Passengers: Engaging in animated conversations with passengers can be distracting, as it diverts your attention from the road.
- Children in the Car: Managing unruly or demanding children can be an additional stressor that detracts your focus from driving.
- Sightseeing: Gazing at roadside attractions or other vehicles can lead to inattentiveness, causing you to miss critical developments on the road.
- Vehicle Controls: Adjusting vehicle controls like the radio, air conditioning, or seat positions can divert your focus from the road.
- Texting: A dangerous activity in its own category, texting while driving is illegal for a reason: it combines visual, manual, and cognitive distractions – a sure recipe for disaster while driving.
Eliminating Distractions
To mitigate these distractions and enhance road safety, you need to take proactive steps:
- Preparation: Before hitting the road, ensure your seat, mirrors, steering wheel, and climate controls are set to your preference. If necessary, input your destination into the GPS. These basic steps minimize the need to make adjustments during your drive.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Pair your phone with your vehicle’s Bluetooth system to make and receive calls hands-free. This allows you to keep your focus on the road. If calls come in, only answer if you need to. If you do answer, keep your conversations short and let the other party know that you will call them back later when you can give them more attention.
- Entertainment: Set up your music or entertainment system before departing so you’re not fumbling with controls while driving. If you do listen to music or shows, keep the volume down so that you can hear traffic noises and sirens. When driving in heavy traffic, unfamiliar places, or in town, it is best to keep the entertainment system off.
- Pull Over When Necessary: If you have an urgent phone call or need to attend to unruly children, find a safe place to pull over. It’s better to take a few extra minutes than risk your safety.
- Take Care of Business Beforehand: Take care of your stomach before you go! If you get hungry on a more extended trip, stop to eat. It is not only cleaner and safer, but it is much better for your digestion.
Avoid the Perils of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can have dire consequences, ranging from minor inconveniences to catastrophic accidents. In 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined that over 3,500 people died in accidents caused by distracted driving, primarily from telephone use.
In addition to direct accidents caused by a failure to pay attention, distracted driving can lead to other problems, including near-misses, increasing the risk of accidents to yourself or other drivers caused by speeding or slowing due to inattention, missed exits and turns, and failing to respond in time to a hazardous situation.
Think about it: when driving on the highway, you and other drivers are moving at 60 miles per hour in large metal and glass boxes weighing anywhere from one to two tons. That carries with it an inherent risk. When you are not alert and attentive to your driving responsibilities, you create a danger to yourself and others. No matter how long you have been driving, you cannot afford to be complacent. Your life and the lives of your passengers and others on the road are very much in your hands. Avoiding distractions and being aware of your surroundings can make all the difference in ensuring a safe journey for everyone who shares the road.
Innovating for Safety Only Goes So Far
At Mike White Ford, we love cars and appreciate all they do for us – getting us to work, school, and stores and enabling us to visit friends and explore new places. But driving a car is also a grave responsibility. Our vehicles are equipped with various safety features, from seatbelts to airbags to clever innovations like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems. We’re committed to helping you stay safe on the road. However, our best technological efforts are still no substitute for your attention and awareness.
If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and want to explore the latest safety features of Ford vehicles, contact or visit one of our Mike White Ford showrooms in either Coeur d’Alene or Sandpoint. Our team is here to help you find the perfect vehicle to meet your needs and ensure your safety on the road.