Each year, in the United States alone, there are nearly 3,500 deaths caused by some form of distracted driving. A distracted driver causes nearly 1 in 5 car crashes. This is no April Fool’s joke. The dangers of distracted driving are very real and more prevalent than ever in today’s society with our growing addiction to technology.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and at BMR Insurance Agency we want to help lower this number by raising awareness and encouraging you to take the Focused Driver Challenge.
Many people believe that driving using hands-free devices such as Bluetooth makes driving while using the phone safe. However, this is not the case because the brain still remains distracted by the conversation and can cause the driver to miss seeing up to half of what is around them on the road. In fact, distracted driving goes even further than just using your phone while behind the wheel. It also includes eating or drinking, putting on makeup (ladies, be honest!), reading a book or magazine, or anything else that takes away your full attention while behind the wheel.
The urge to answer that incoming call or text while on the road is almost irresistible. In the average time it takes to check a text message, less than five seconds, a car travelling 60 mph will travel more than the length of a football field! The current minimum ticket cost is $162, with subsequent fines of at least $285. If you think this fine is expensive, imagine the hospital bills or even funeral costs that you or your family may have to pay.
Remember, when you choose to pick up that phone or do anything else while behind the wheel, you are also putting the lives of others, either inside or outside of the vehicle, at risk. No message is more important than your life or the lives of those around you.
The best way to save yourself the distraction is to put your phone on silent and put it away somewhere that you can’t reach it.
Next time your phone rings while you’re behind the wheel and you’re tempted to answer it, ask yourself: Is it worth it?
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