This week’s post for our Safe Driving Month is Distracted Driving.  Distraction.gov defines distracted driving as “Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.”

Traffic safety experts classify distractions into three main types: Manual, Visual, and Cognitive.

• Manual distractions require the driver to move their hands from the steering wheel.
• Visual distractions require the driver to focus their eyes away from the road.
• Cognitive distractions require the driver to start thinking about something other than driving.

This is why texting while driving is so bad; texting involves all three types of distractions.  As a result, texting and driving makes a crash up to 23 times more likely.  Texting and driving is illegal, but more importantly, as driver’s we all have a responsibility to ensure that we make it home safe to our families Everyday!

Statistics

• About 100 people die every day in car crashes.
• Up to 90% of accidents are caused by driver error.
• About 26% of accidents involve cell phone use.
• Right now, 9% of drivers are talking on their phone.

Visit TextingAndDrivingSafety.com to see more statistics. 

For more information about the IFS Safety Program, call 636-680-2100 and ask for Mike Schwaller.