Distracted drivers are more likely to react slower
to traffic conditions than drivers who are focused on the road. Inattentive
drivers are also more likely to miss potential safety hazards or are less
likely to skillfully conduct preventative or evasive moves to avoid a wreck.
Inside the Vehicle
- Avoid texting or talking on a phone while driving. (Texting while driving is illegal in North Carolina as is cellphone use by drivers under 18.)
- Don’t eat while driving.
- Program radio stations or music devices for easy access and select music before driving.
- Keep the stereo at a volume low enough to hear sounds outside the vehicle such as sirens, horns or screeching tires.
- Designate a front-seat passenger to serve as a "co-pilot" to avoid having to fumble with maps or navigation systems. If driving alone, map out destinations in advance.
- Do personal grooming at home, not on the road.
- Teach children the importance of good behavior while in a vehicle. Do not underestimate how distracting it can be to tend to them in the car.
- Make sure pets are in a carrier.
Outside the Vehicle
Avoid reading signs or watching activity on the roadside for long periods of time.
Do not stop and talk to people who are outside the vehicle.
Only allow passengers to get inside when it is parked in a safe location. Do not pick them up at stoplights or stop signs.