7 Simple Ways to Change Driving Habits

According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Distracted driving has led to more than 5,400 highway deaths and 448,000 accidents this past year.

To keep your mind on the road and your care out of an accident, follow these 7 easy safe driving tips!

1. Stow all phones-even hand free ones
Talking or texting behind the wheel is perhaps one of the most
important driving habits to break. Of all highway deaths last year,
18% involved drivers using a cell phone before the crash. When
talking on a cell phone your risk of accident quadruples and texting
makes you eight times more likely to crash!

2. Listen to-don't watch GPS devices
High-tech gadgets are supposed to help you navigate unknown streets,
but if you fiddle with the controls or pay more attention to the
screen than the road, you jeopardize your car safety. Program your
destination before you start driving and rely on verbal cues from GPS
instead of the screen.

3. Go 3-D when looking for an address
Before you head out to an unfamiliar destination, review maps and
directions. One tool CIS finds helpful is Google Map's Street View.
The 3-D view gives you visual clues so you don't have to take your
eyes off the road to look for street signs or house addresses.

4. Adjust Controls and set the playlist before you roll
Don't fiddle with gadgets like the radio, iPod, or climate controls
while driving.  Set up everything before you turn on the ignition. If
it takes more than a glance to adjust a control, wait until you're
stopped to fix it.

5. Ban conflict-inducing conversations
When you talk with others in the car, heated arguments may pull your
attention away from the traffic signals and pedestrians. Make it a
habit that you'll save deep discussions for outside the car. The same
can be said for handling a misbehaving child.

6. Buckle up Rex
Unpredictable, unsecured pets can cause major distracted driving
concerns. There are a variety of restraints suitable for your type of
pet and car; from a cage in the back to a harness that can be buckled
with the seat belt. The backseat is also the best place for pets,
that way you won't be tempted to pet or feed them.

7. Take breaks to avoid spacing out
Daydreaming in a car can end up as a nightmare. If your mind is
wandering pull over to jot it down or make a phone call. Don't let it
keep running through your head. Take regular breaks, one at least
every two hours.
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DNT TXT N DRV

Those of you that know how to text, tweet, fb & email on your mobile phone are probably guilty of distractive driving. It is easy to think you can send a quick text, check your email inbox or tweet what you are doing while stopped at a light or sitting in traffic. Truth is, texting while driving can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence.

Car and Driver Magazine conducted a study to see which distraction influences the reaction time to braking while driving a vehicle. They rigged a car with a red light in the windshield to act like a brake light for a vehicle in front of them. When driving 70 mph it took .54 seconds for the unimpaired driver with no distractions to brake. When legally drunk (.08) it added an extra 4 feet, while reading an email it added 36 feet and when sending a text it added 70 feet!

America averages over 75 billion text messages a year. Over 50 percent of teen drivers admit to texting while driving and 40 percent of crashes in urban areas are related to distractive driving. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over 515,000 people have been injured because of distracted drivers and a startling 5,800 people were killed in 2008. Fatality Accident Reporting System concludes that between 2001 & 2007, 16,141 lives were taken because of cell phone use while driving.

Colorado State law prohibits drivers under age of 18 to use hand held cell phones at all. It is also a crime for any driver to text, email or tweet while driving. Governor Bill Ritter signed the bill in 2009 and assigned a $50 fine for first time offenders and $100 fine for second time offenders. It is important for parents to preach to their teen drivers about the dangers of distractive driving and of course lead by example. If you absolutely need to text, tweet, email or fb pull over and come to a complete stop before reaching for your hand held device. Also, those with Blackberries and Android phones can download an application that restricts you from texting while driving.

A text, tweet and email can wait so do not let your smart phone allow you to do something stupid. In one single second your whole life could change for the worse. A BRB, LOL & TTYL can wait.

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Work Cited

Chester, S. (2010, September 24). Texting while driving responsible for 16,000 deaths in 6 years [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/24/study-texting-while-driving-responsible-for-16000-deaths-in-6-years

Genachowskis, J. Federal Communications Commission, Testimony to Senate Commerce Committee. (2009). Texting while driving Washington, DC: Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved from http://www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-driving

 LeBeau, P. (2009, June 25). Texting and driving worse than drinking and driving [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/id/31545004/site/14081545

Pay Attention



Can You See the Motorcycle?



Now You Can!



 The Honda Crotch Rocket was traveling 85 mph. The VW driver was talking on a cell phone when she pulled out of a side street and did not see the motorcycle. The vehicle had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the vehicle. All three were killed instantly. The VW actually flipped 20 feet from where the collision took place because of the impact. This demonstration was placed at the Motorcycle  Fair by policy and Road Safety Department. We all know that accidents DO happen but this one could have been prevented. The driver was making a phone call on her brand new cell phone and did not have her full attention on driving. The motorcyclist was obviously going way too fast and in a split second 3 lives were taken. Please pass this photo on to all young drivers, motorcycle riders and people who use a cell phone while driving.

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