On the most elementary degree, distracted driving is partaking in any actions whereas driving that take your consideration away from the highway. When your consideration isn’t on the highway, it’s a significant issue. It ought to come as no shock that cell telephones play a big position in distracted driving – use of a cellular phone is commonly one of many greatest distractors now we have whereas within the automobile.
In case you’ve bought a car lately, your automobile might even have features to assist reduce distracted driving, whether or not it’s a espresso cup indicator that seems on the dashboard when your automobile senses you want some caffeine or a break from driving, the vibration of a steering wheel to maintain the motive force alert, or your cellphone studying textual content messages aloud to you so that you don’t have to choose up your cellphone. (Assume these security indicators sound useful? You might be involved in seeing our listing of the most secure vehicles in the marketplace in 2021.)
We’ve coated distracted driving on The Glovebox earlier than – why it’s an issue, the three classifications of distracted driving, the way it can have an effect on insurance coverage, and suggestions for remaining centered whereas on the highway. However on this publish, we’re going to deal with the position cell telephones play in distracted driving – whether or not it’s texting, speaking, or the usage of apps whereas driving – and we’ll additionally cowl driving legal guidelines by state.
How cellular phone use impacts distracted driving
One research by the College of Utah discovered that it takes the mind 27 seconds on common to regain full consideration after “speaking” to your hands-free machine. One other statistic revealed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has discovered that whereas driving at 55mph, within the time it takes to learn or ship a textual content message, it’s the equal of driving blind for the size of a whole soccer area.
You may see from research and statistics like those who taking a fast peek at your cellphone to test a textual content message or change a tune on Spotify – it actually provides as much as a number of time the place your mind isn’t centered on the highway. Being distracted isn’t solely harmful for you, your passengers, and different drivers on the highway, it could possibly additionally trigger your insurance coverage to go up, accidents, damage, and dying.
State by state driving legal guidelines for cellular phone use
Distracted driving is such an issue that in a lot of our nation, it’s unlawful and punishable by regulation. The legal guidelines differ from state to state and vary from banning texting to banning hand-held gadgets altogether Yep, you learn that proper—you could possibly be pulled over or get a ticket for as a lot as selecting up your cellphone when you’re behind the wheel (even should you’re at a cease gentle)! A superb rule of thumb is that if the engine is turned on, you’re now thought of a car “in movement”, which makes texting at a cease gentle unlawful.
We perceive maintaining with present legal guidelines and laws is usually a bit overwhelming, but it surely’s necessary to know the place your state (and any state you is perhaps driving in) stands with regards to driving legal guidelines associated to cellular phone use. That’s why we’ve put collectively a useful infographic on cellular phone and driving legal guidelines. Beneath, you may see a breakdown of the present driving legal guidelines in every state as of this 12 months (sourced from GHSA, the IIHS, and NCSL). In your state, unlawful cellular phone use whereas driving might end in a ticket or factors in your license, and repeated offenses can carry stricter punishment.
Assume your state must do extra to struggle distracted driving to maintain you and different drivers secure? We encourage you to get in contact along with your state and native legislators by cellphone or e-mail to allow them to know your ideas.
How us is taking a stand on distracted driving
Our purpose at us is to assist ensure the roads you drive on are secure, clear, and distraction-free. A technique we do that is by our partnership with Mission Yellow Gentle, a nationwide scholarship competitors that was based by Julie Garner, who misplaced her teenage son Hunter Garner in a automobile accident in 2007.
This nationwide scholarship competitors is devoted to encouraging teenagers and adults alike to observe secure driving habits, and to teach everybody concerning the risks of distracted driving—particularly texting whereas driving. Since its begin in 2011, Mission Yellow Gentle has awarded over 95 scholarships totaling $195,000. These numbers develop every year as extra scholarships are awarded.
us helps Mission Yellow Gentle alongside nationwide companions like The Advert Council, AT&T’s It Can Wait and the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration. Mission Yellow Gentle founder Julie Garner says,
“Working to unfold the essential message concerning the risks of distracted driving is so necessary. Our scholar scholarship winners use their voices and creativity to influence younger drivers and assist save lives. The help of our companions, together with us Insurance coverage, permits us to maintain funding scholarships and attain extra folks concerning the risks of distracted driving.”
Tricks to keep away from distracted driving
- When unsure, pull over. That is at all times the most secure alternative if one thing can’t wait. Nonetheless, don’t linger on the facet of the highway if it’s an extended cease. Get off the freeway and discover a parking zone you need to use.
- Off. Your. Cellphone. We will’t stress this sufficient. Hold it out of your hand, much more so if it’s unlawful in your state. Textual content messages and notifications can wait, and if it’s extra pressing, solely go for hands-free calling.
- Be ready. The much less you need to take into consideration whereas driving, the higher. Eat, get night time’s relaxation, select radio presets, alter your mirror, and seat and enter your vacation spot into the GPS all earlier than hitting the highway.
Study extra concerning the risks of distracted driving and the way it can influence your insurance coverage.
We would like your subsequent journey to be a secure one.
After studying extra about distracted driving, cellular phone and state legal guidelines, we hope you’ll take initiative to cease distracted driving and encourage these round you to do the identical.
Whereas we hope all of your journeys are secure and distraction free, we all know that accidents occur. Shield your self in potential future accidents by getting a quote with us in the present day for reasonably priced automobile insurance coverage.
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