Don’t Reach For It
Cell phones are a common distraction for drivers, but not the only one.
Anything that causes a driver to take their eyes off the road can cause an accident. Some women apply makeup during the morning commute. Many drivers eat during their commute. Reaching for an object in the car (like the controls on the radio or the baby’s car seat) also causes accidents.
A distracted driver is more likely to take their hands off the steering wheel, speed, follow too closely, or accidentally ignore a stop sign or red light. The NHTSA found recently that 80 percent of automobile accidents and near-accidents are caused by distracted drivers. In 2016, the NHTSA discovered that 3,450 lives were lost due to distracted driving.