As I have gotten older and my list of responsibilities has increased, I have noticed there are truly not enough hours in a single day. It always seems there is so much to do and so little time to get it done. As human beings we tend to be natural born multi-taskers. Regardless of where we are or what we may be doing there is always that itch to do more than one thing at once. This includes at home, in the office, and most importantly within our vehicles as we commute each day. In the car there are distractions all around making it hard to focus on one thing or the road in front of us. Distracted driving is the result of any activity or engagement that causes you to take your attention off of the road and away from the task of operating your vehicle with care.
Unfortunately, distracted driving is something I am all too familiar with. Earlier this year I was involved in an unexpected car accident just minutes from my home. After making a short trip to the grocery store I went to take the usual left turn into my neighborhood. The light was green and I proceeded to follow the vehicle in front of me as we were heading in the same direction. At the same time the car on the opposite side of the intersection had accelerated in hopes of getting through the red light before we had all begun to turn. He failed and as a result my car was hit almost head on.
While he walked away with not a single scratch I was left with severe burns on both of my arms and a bruised shoulder. Not to mention my car was declared totalled. It was the most traumatizing experience and I was thankful my daughter was not in the backseat. Luckily at the moment of my accident there was an officer across the road waiting for his light to change as well. He witnessed everything and issued the driver a citation for speeding. In a 25 MPH speed zone he was going fast enough to uproot the nearby yield sign that was encased by concrete. When asked by the officer what happened his answer was simple, “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Taking your eyes off of the road for a single moment can be the cause of a potential accident and affect your own life as well as others. Some of the forms of distracted driving include talking on the phone, texting, adjusting the navigation system, and fumbling through belongings. All of these things can be prevented and the best method to do so is to share what you know with those around you. Knowledge is power.
Always keep in mind that the most advanced safety feature of any vehicle is the driver. Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Auto Alliance encourage awareness in hopes that drivers everywhere will do their part in making the roads safer. Set the example and spread the word about the Decide to Drive program which empowers drivers and passengers to speak up about distracted driving. Whether you discuss the topic with family or co-workers, educate them with the facts and support this cause with passion.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
I'll admit that I used to glance at my phone while driving, checking texts or emails, etc. And then I realized that what if I got into an accident because of whatever that was I was looking at on the screen. Is there any email, tweet, fb update, text that would be important enough that I could justify killing someone else or myself? Of course not. That's kept my phone out of my hand while driving.
~Amanda