Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving

April is Distracted Driving Month. All month long, we are sharing tips to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and eliminate preventable deaths and injuries. Check out our first post with details on exactly what kinds of distractions drivers face and our second post with some surprising statistics on distracted driving in the state of Michigan.

All drivers encounter some distraction while behind the wheel, but there are things that we can all do to avoid unnecessary distractions and improve our focus on safe driving.

Commonsense tips include:

  • Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road at all times; use your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature or an app to silence calls and texts.
  • Put you phone in the glovebox or elsewhere to curb the urge to look at it.
  • Avoid eating and drinking while driving.
  • Pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle if you need to make or take a call.
  • Ask a passenger to help navigate, change the music, or monitor your texts.
  • Pull over to a safe place to address situations involving pets or children. Model safe driving behavior as a family. Parents can be just as guilty of common distracted driving behaviors. Make a pledge as a family and commit to not engaging in any distracted driving behaviors.