When you’re driving down a highway, can you think of any circumstance where it is safe to close your eyes for five seconds? Of course not. But it takes about five seconds to read or send a text. At 55 miles per hour, you can travel the length of a football field in just those few seconds. And in that instant, over that distance, a life can be taken—maybe even your own.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2020. Just one car accident, even a minor one, can have a profound impact on your life and the lives of others.
It’s important to stay focused on the road at all times. Avoiding texting or talking on the phone is obvious. But you can also be distracted by fiddling with the radio or A/C, eating and drinking, pets, and other people in the car.
Minimizing your chance of an accident avoids the stress of dealing with repairs, keeps your insurance costs down, and helps keep you, your family, and others safe.
Recommit yourself to safe driving by not giving in to distraction and by focusing solely on the road.
Sources: CDC.gov, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.