Pay attention while driving
Distracted driving is any activity that distracts you from driving, including eating, talking, texting, drinking, using your phone, or fiddling with your navigation system. Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions. It takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, It’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. Distracted driving changes lives. Our message is; Pay attention while driving. Distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019.
Types of distracted driving
There are three main categories of distracted driving
● Manual
● Visual
● Cognitive
Manual distraction
Manual distractions make drivers take their hands off the steering wheel and operate any operation that is not related to safe driving, Like eating food, drinking water, or handling any object while driving. Activities of this kind make them divide their attention among various things creating a crisis for safe driving.
Visual distraction
These are the distractions during which the driver takes his/her eyes away from the road or their driving instrument, like reading a text message on your phone, advertisement boards on the roadside. These advertisements boards are painted in very catchy colors, they immediately grab the attention of drivers. Mobilephone is one of the biggest visual distraction these days. The best way to avoid such distractions is to keep your smartphone off while driving.
Cognitive distraction
This type of distraction is related to diverting the mental focus of the driver away from the road. It is maybe due to a phone call, talking with a passenger, being mentally and emotionally distressed, or maybe due to daydreaming. A big reason is feeling sleepy while driving.
What can you do
Responsible family member
The first and foremost need is to be a responsible family member. Your one mistake can make someone a widow, orphan, or can cost him/her a sister, a brother, a mother, or any other such an important family member.
Discourage distracted driving
As other bad habits are discouraged, distracted driving should also be discouraged. It should be treated as a part of self-respect, such an environment should be created that such driver(distracted) should feel ashamed of himself.
Awareness campaigns
Public awareness campaigns should be launched across all possible platforms including electronic media, print media, seminars, and posters. Special shows on electronic media should be dedicated to the domain of distracted driving its effects, consequences, and ways to control it. Special stories should be produced on electronic media platforms about victims and survivors of accidents due to distracted driving. This will discourage distracted driving by unveiling the drastic consequences of such events.
Heavy penalties
Heavy penalties and fines upon conviction. Including driver license suspension.
Good citizen
It is an ethical duty of each of us to avoid and discourage distracted driving and spread the word among our friends and family. This will keep us safe. Each life is precious and priceless, five seconds of eyes off the road could cost us several innocent lives. Kindly pay attention while driving.