Although people haven’t been driving much in the past year due to the pandemic, as things start to return to normal, it is important to be aware of the road and get rid of distractions.
Especially considering that there are on average 1,101 car crashes per day in Florida and if you drive by the entrance to the Palmetto Expressway on NW 122nd street, you’re very likely to see a car accident.
I recently got my driver’s license and have come across horrible drivers and many car accidents which has made me reflect a lot on the way I drive.
As an 18-year-old, driving can be a blessing because it means I get to go out without my parents having to rearrange their schedules to accompany me. When they permit me to use their car, I simply get in the vehicle and leave.
If my parents aren’t able to do groceries or buy something, I can drive wherever they need me to go and solve the issue.
But every time I get on the highway, I get scared because of the pressure of having to drive properly to not endanger other people’s lives.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a time when the National Safety Council creates activities to raise awareness about the different ways in which people can get distracted while driving.
There are three major types of distractions you should be aware of when driving:
Visual distractions are those people associate with distracted driving the most and it’s dangerous because drivers aren’t able to properly assess their surroundings.
A manual distraction occurs when drivers take one or both hands off the wheel for whatever reason during any amount of time. So if something were to happen, your reaction time is slower.
However, the most dangerous are probably cognitive distractions because they happen when your mind is elsewhere. That may include listening to a podcast, being on a call (even if it’s on speaker) or daydreaming.
So if you don’t want to visit the hospital, identify how you get distracted and work toward improving your focus on the road.
Start by practicing the obvious: don’t take your eyes off the road because things happen in a matter of seconds, avoid listening or engaging in activities while you’re driving that you know distract you and keep your hands on the wheel at all times.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
