As the daughter of a {now retired} Chief of Police, I grew up knowing it was important to follow the rules of the road. When it was time for me to learn how to drive, my dad stressed how important hands on the wheel were. Of course, way back when I was learning to drive there were fewer distractions than there are today. Life was a bit simpler.
Lately, life is one giant distraction. Everyone seems to be over scheduled and distracted no matter where you see them. How many times have you seen a driver doing things other than driving while they’re traveling down the road? After a three-thousand mile {round trip} road trip this Spring, we saw a lot! People were flossing their teeth, eating yogurt, applying makeup, reading newspapers and more! That’s why I have decided to do my part to help end distracted driving!
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes.
Let’s Help End Distracted Driving
Remember, the most advanced safety feature of any vehicle is the driver. The AAOS and the Auto Alliance urges all drivers to keep their most sophisticated safety features engaged at all times: eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
The Decide to Drive campaign aims to empower drivers and passengers to speak up about distracted driving, continue the conversation at home, work and play, and reduce distracted behaviors behind the wheel. Talk to your children, your partner, your family, and your friends about what distracted driving means and how they can prevent it.
What are you doing to prevent distracted driving?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
