It is not possible to fully protect yourself from accidents. After all, you can’t control all the actions and reactions of the other people out there and many times they are responsible for accidents you are involved in. But one thing we can have within our control is our inner-car driving environment and with that control, we have the obligation of creating a distraction-free zone.
The following tips will help you keep your driving environment free of unnecessary distractions so you can focus on the road:
- Put your phone in the glove compartment and ignore it
15 years ago, very few people were able to talk on the phone while driving, and none were able to text. While we now have the ability to do both while we drive, the truth is that we shouldn’t. And if you look at it objectively, you’ll possibly agree that there is nothing that can’t wait to be said or typed until the vehicle is parked.
- Leave the radio station alone
If you drive with the radio on, at some point you will be faced with a song or commercial that you don’t like and want to change the radio station to avoid it. But messing around with the radio can distract you for vital moments that you could have used to avoid getting into a car accident. Deal with the shampoo commercial or song instead and be patient—it will be over soon.
You know those times when you are running late and you grab something to eat behind the wheel? Well according to an article on NYDailyNews.com, that little maneuver is responsible for causing 80 percent of all the accidents on the road. Can you imagine how much cheaper auto insurance rates would be if there were 80 percent fewer accidents?
- Don’t apply makeup or shave
We’ve all been behind the person who thinks their rear view mirror is their temporary bathroom mirror and, naturally, uses it for makeup application or shaving. Unfortunately, this kind of intense and inappropriate facial scrutiny is very distracting and can easily result in an accident, even when you are driving at low speeds.
- Don’t read—even while stopped in traffic
You have so much to do that you need to make every second of your day count. So that’s why you read the magazine while trapped in traffic. But to really make every moment count, you should spend every second being responsible and paying attention to what you are doing—particularly when you are doing something as important as driving.
There are things that we can control, and there are things that we can’t. Take advantage of setting up your driving environment and exercise control over this small piece of your day. This could save your life.
Let us answer any more questions you may have about safe driving or
contact us today at 763-241-7900 for a free
Minneapolis auto insurance quote.