Tips for Avoiding Common Driver Distractions

There are a lot of distractions on the road today. As drivers, we have anything from our phones beside us to accidents on the road nearby. We don’t want to get into an accident ourselves because we’re paying attention to a distraction.

Below, we provide tips on how to “get around” the distraction so you don’t cause a car accident of your own.

1. Place your phone where you cannot see it.

One of the biggest distractions to drivers today is the urge to check their cell phones. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, are so easily accessible on your cell phone. This kind of quick access makes it easy to become distracted by such platforms; and, consequently, the easy access and distraction can quickly cause an auto accident.

These accidents are very easily preventable and can cause catastrophic damage to both vehicles. You can rear-end someone with your vehicle, or you can be rear-ended yourself by another driver while they are checking their phone. If you are injured in this type of accident, you can expect further damage to your finances.

This type of accident could even cause a mental disorder, such as an anxiety disorder, because of flashbacks to the stress of that incident. This is why you should place the phone where you cannot see it. Put it in your purse or in your back pocket where you cannot get to it while driving. You should also turn off all notifications and decline phone calls or text messages while driving. This will help prevent distraction on the roadway.

2. Turn your music down low.

Another type of distraction that people might not think about is the music played while driving. This kind of distraction can go along with driving while checking your phone. With streaming software, such as Spotify, Pandora, or even Apple Music, it’s easy to have this music streaming in your vehicle. Today’s technology makes it possible to play music from your phone through your vehicle’s stereo system.

You need your phone out to skip any songs you don’t want to listen to. This is a prime cause of distraction, especially because you may have to look at the screen in order to skip the song. To eradicate this distraction, you can either turn the music down or not play it at all. The temptation to check your phone can be difficult to ignore but the risk for an accident is worth foregoing the temporary enjoyment.

3. What about other accidents?

You are bound to pass a few accidents during your “driving career.” It is hard not to look at them, and a lot of us look in spite of ourselves. While we are looking at the accident nearby, we are distracted from what is going on around us.

We could very well get into an accident of our own because of this. We need to ignore the temptation to look at these accidents, so we won’t get into an accident of our own. We don’t want to get injured because we are watching someone else go through the process of an accident.

If you’ve already been injured in an auto accident caused by a distracted driver, don’t wait to seek legal help. The right Greenville auto accident attorney can help you file a claim or lawsuit for maximum compensation.

Contact the Ricci Law Firm Injury Lawyers, PA. at (252) 777-2222, or fill out an online case evaluation form to get started immediately. A member of our team will be in contact shortly.