He is the first North American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church
Food spills are actually a major cause of distraction. So make sure you finish breakfast at home, or pull over to have that cheeseburger.
Resist the urge to reach for your bag or items if they fall while driving.
There are three types of driving distractions, and any of them can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road.
Cognitive distraction is when you zone out behind the wheel and completely take your mind off driving.
Avoid calling or texting family members and friends when you know they're driving, to avoid distracting them.
Look out for drivers who are drifting from their lanes, driving at inconsistent speeds, or are involved in any other distracted behaviors. Make sure to keep your distance.
See also: Important traffic safety tips for all
Drowsiness increases the risk of a crash by nearly four times. If you feel tired, get off the road and don't try to get home faster.
Make sure kids are in proper car seats, so you don't have to constantly check if they're safely seated.
Don't forget to keep your pet secured in their zone in your vehicle. It can also help reduce distractions if pets aren't roaming around the car.
In the US alone, 3,142 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2020.
This is a great way to keep your hands on the wheel, while staying entertained. Plus, there's nothing like jamming to your favorite tunes in the car!
If you take your hands off the wheel, then that's a manual distraction. This is also a dangerous distraction.
Parents can model good behavior for their children by demonstrating attentive driving. Avoid texting, eating, or calling while behind the wheel.
If you're a passenger, reduce distractions for the driver by assisting with navigation or other tasks.
If you're a passenger and see someone texting, or otherwise driving while distracted, say something and let them know that you're uncomfortable. Encourage your children to do the same when they're passengers in a friend’s car.
Remember: even if you're using hands-free devices, you can still get distracted. This is largely because of the limitations of the human brain, which simply can't do everything at the same time.
Remember: while you're driving, your phone should only be used for emergency purposes. Even then, it's best to pull over to make a call.
Responding to texts or taking calls for work while driving can be dangerous. Encourage your employer to have a distracted driving policy, which includes waiting to take work-related calls and messages until safely parked.
Turning off the phone, or putting it in "do not disturb" mode, can help remove the temptation to check any incoming messages or new notifications.
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from safe driving. Any non-driving activity increases your risk of crashing.
Anything that occupies your mind or sightlines can be a distraction behind the wheel. Make time to do what you need to before entering your car.
Visual distraction is when you take your eyes off the road. This can happen when you look in the mirror to apply makeup, or you focus on texting, for example.
You can use apps to help you avoid phone use while driving. Consider trying an app to reduce distractions.
While there are countless random things that can steal your attention, it's still possible to prevent distraction and drive more safely.
Also in the US, in 2019, about one in five of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver were not in vehicles. They were walking or riding their bikes.
Young adults and teen drivers are more at risk. In the US, among fatal crashes involving distracted drivers in 2019, drivers ages 15 to 20 were more distracted than older drivers.
Consider restricting the number of passengers until your teen, or new driver, gains experience behind the wheel.
Programming your navigation system while you drive can take your eyes off the road. Make sure you pull over or plan in advance.
Stay calm in stressful situations, and don’t respond to another driver’s road rage. Keep your distance and let the driver go first if that's what they intend to do.
If you're a driver, pay attention: nearly every driver out there is guilty of some form of distracted driving, and it doesn't just involve texting. Anything that takes your attention away from the road is a distraction. Eating, drinking, smoking, putting on makeup, or even fiddling around with the stereo could all be considered distractions. And this can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
If you're guilty of these things, or simply know someone who is always getting distracted, the following tips can help avoid this dangerous behavior. Click on to find out more.
The dangers of distracted driving, and how to combat it
Keep your eyes on the road!
LIFESTYLE Safety
If you're a driver, pay attention: nearly every driver out there is guilty of some form of distracted driving, and it doesn't just involve texting. Anything that takes your attention away from the road is a distraction. Eating, drinking, smoking, putting on makeup, or even fiddling around with the stereo could all be considered distractions. And this can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
If you're guilty of these things, or simply know someone who is always getting distracted, the following tips can help avoid this dangerous behavior. Click on to find out more.