Distracted Driving – How to Break the Habit

Friday, September 16, 2016

Distracted Driving – How to Break the Habit

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Chicago Attorneys Serving Victims of Distracted Drivers

Distracted driving is something that is 100 percent preventable; yet, it is still a growing problem in the United States. More drivers are finding themselves distracted behind the wheel, with the biggest culprit being phone usage while driving. Nationwide, thousands are killed and hundreds of thousands are left injured in accidents each year involving distracted drivers. There is no doubt that Americans are addicted to their mobile devices – and have no issue with using such devices while driving.

If you find yourself prone to texting or other distractions, there are things you can do to break the bad habit and become a safer driver in general.

Tips for Breaking the Distraction Habit

Being proactive is the only way you can do your part to avoid deadly collisions due to distractions. Some things you can do to lessen the likelihood that you will cause an accident include:

  • Give your phone to a passenger. There is no need for you to constantly check your phone while you are driving. If you are worried that you’ll be tempted to use your phone, give it to a passenger to hold onto it for you – better yet, hand it to your kids and let them play a game so you don’t have the option to even look at it.
  • Use driving apps. Numerous safe driving apps can actually disable notifications on your phone while you are in the car. Some phones automatically can disable when they detect motion – you just need to activate the feature.
  • Avoid conversations. If you carpool or tend to have a lot of passengers in your vehicle, let them converse amongst themselves while you focus on driving. The best way to stay out of the conversation is to let your passengers know that you will be driving. This can help you avoid injecting your thoughts into the conversation. The less involved you are in it, the less likely you are to pay attention.
  • Turn off other devices. Turn off other devices that can also distract you. If you need to use a device for driving, such as GPS, program it before you even start the car. That way, you are not fumbling with it while you are attempting to drive.
  • Keep meals and drinks at home. Instead of eating your lunch or even breakfast in the car, give yourself extra time to eat them at home. By avoiding the consumption of food or drinks while driving, you will not be distracted when food spills or drinks slosh around.
  • Secure everything. You can easily become distracted when items are moving around your car. Avoid this by securing everything before you take off – that includes water bottles and other loose items that may dislodge and roll around as you make turns.

What to Do if You’re Injured by a Distracted Driver

Even if you take every safety precaution in the world, you could be the victim of an automobile accident. If you have suffered serious injury, contact the experts at Malman Law to discuss your options. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Call us to schedule your free consultation or fill out our online contact form with your questions.

Steve Malman

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.

Years of experience: +30 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024

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