Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents in New Jersey and throughout the country. However, there are actions that you can take to minimize your risk of becoming distracted while traveling to work, school or other destinations. Let’s take a closer look at some of the specific strategies that you can use to focus on the road while your vehicle is in motion.
Drive by yourself
If you have passengers in your vehicle, you may be tempted to talk to them while traveling. As your brain can only focus on one thing at a time, holding a conversation with someone in the car will make it impossible to focus on what is going on outside of it. In addition, passengers may say or do things that may cause you to glance away from the road for several seconds at a time.
Put the cellphone away
A cellphone can cause multiple distractions at the same time depending on how it is used. For instance, to answer a call, you may need to take your eyes off of the road. While talking to the person who called, you will experience a cognitive distraction because you’ll be focused on the conversation. It’s worth noting that using a hands-free system may not be the best idea as doing so could still cause you to drive while distracted, and this may increase your risk of getting into a motor vehicle accident.
Plan your route ahead of time
Not knowing where you are going may cause you to spend more time looking at road signs than you do looking at other vehicles. Ideally, you will plan your route ahead of time so that you know where you need to turn or which lane you need to be in prior to getting off of the highway.
