You may think that looking down to type a short text is safe, but do you know the dark dangers that lie in distracted driving?
Highway safety experts put the blame on distracted driving for approximately 80 percent of all traffic accidents. This means that with just a few seconds of additional awareness and keeping your attentive eyes on the road, we could eliminate around 80 percent of all crashes.
This may not make sense, how can a few seconds make that much of difference? It all has to do with the way our brains perceive distance and time. Consider the time associated with walking the length of an entire football field. Even if you are a fast walker, you can likely send a few texts before reaching the 30-yard line. Put yourself in a car, travel 60 miles per hour, and the situation changes significantly. In just under 3.5 seconds, you’ve travelled the entire length of the football field! A lot can happen in 100 yards, and by taking the time to type “Lol”, you might not have enough time to react to traffic if anything changes.
It’s not just our phones . . .
- reading signs and looking at “TV-style” billboards
- handling kids in the back seat
- eating/snacking while driving
- adjusting radios or other dashboard devices
- simply daydreaming or just listening to the radio
- listening to, looking at or adjusting GPS navigation systems
- catching a falling beverage cup
By keeping your eyes on the road and avoiding distractions, you can help eliminate 80 percent of traffic collisions. Having the right auto insurance policy can help to give you the peace of mind that you need while you’re on the road. Contact the independent insurance professionals at VGW Walker Insurance for all of your Texas car insurance needs to keep you safe.
