Distracted driving is a dangerous habit that kills an average of 3,000 people each year. Cell phones are one of the  common distractions that keep drivers from taking their eyes off  the road. In fact, it has become  a huge problem over the years, texting while driving is banned in 48 of our 50 states and  cell phone use is illegal in 24 states. among them. It is very dangerous to drive while talking on the phone  while texting. It’s best to call or text when you’ve reached your destination. Or, if it’s an emergency, you can pull over to a safe place. The lack of concentration that so many motorists suffer from is the reason we have a month of distracted driving. Of course, motorists should stay focused on the road each month of the year, however, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April is the time to remind us of the importance of having good habits. Get used to driving safely on the road.

Fact: In 2020, motorists use their phones on average  18 times per 100 miles traveled. This means they picked up their phone at least once every 5 and a half miles. You can read more about this statistic and more in Root’s Distracted Driving report. There are three categories to which distractions can fall: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distraction is all that keeps drivers from taking their eyes off the road. Wheel shrinkage is a prime example. The term “rubber” is used to describe when a driver’s attention is on a roadside incident, such as the aftermath of a car crash. Accidents happen, try to look ahead to avoid causing another accident. Manual distraction is anything that keeps you from taking your hands off the wheel, like texting and driving or eating and driving. Anything that takes you off the wheel with one or both  hands  can wait until you reach your destination.

Having safe road habits is very important to yourself and those around you. Here are some quick tips to stay focused on the road and avoid distracted driving: Silence your phone. It’s best to keep it out of your  sight. Know where you are going. Calculate directions to your destination before you leave the aisle. As simple as beautiful. Try to limit the number of passengers traveling with you as much as possible. It’s one of the main distractions for young drivers. Prepare your playlist and grow it. Music and podcasts should be queued first so  you don’t have to worry about controlling your phone or radio when your playlist stops or starts repeating.