Distracted driving makes up an astounding percentage of accident causes on American roads. In 2019 alone, distracted driving was a contributing factor in over 8 percent of fatal car accidents. The worst part is that distracted driving is avoidable and Clark’s Professional Car Care has some tips that can help you to do so.
Make Sure Everything Is Secured
One huge distraction is when you take a turn or stop and something falls or shifts unexpectedly in the car. The best way to avoid that problem is to make sure that everything you put in the car is secured somehow. If you’re tempted to reach for something to keep it from falling over, that could easily lead to an accident.
Avoid Trying to Do More than Just Driving
Lots of folks do more than just driving, like eating or talking on the phone. None of that is a great idea, and it can be super distracting. Anything that takes your attention away from driving is something you should save for another time. Even conversations with passengers can be distracting, so pay close attention to when your mind starts to wander.
Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Another big issue on the road is that there’s so much to pay attention to. You should primarily be looking at the road, of course. But you do also need to shift your attention to your mirrors, your dashboard, and other vehicles. It’s a constant balancing act, but necessary. When you take your eyes off the road and off of driving, things can go badly very quickly.
Pull Over if You Absolutely Have to Do Something Else
There are times, of course, when you really do need to focus on something else besides driving for a moment. At those times, the best thing to do is to pull over and park. Take care of whatever needs your attention and only then should you go back to driving. That’s going to help keep you and the drivers around you a lot safer and it will take you less time, too.
Proper maintenance is the other half of staying safe on the road, and Clark’s Professional Car Care in Pascagoula, MS can help you with that, too. Just give us a call today to set up an appointment. We’ll look into what your car needs in terms of maintenance or repair and give you the information that you need in order to decide what happens next with your car.
