Learn to Drive – Types of Distractions When Driving
As you learn to drive you will realize that many things can be a distraction and pose a safety hazard. As part of your Driver Ed program make sure you practice avoiding distractions…. like the following.
Music
Teens love their tunes. Whether it’s CDs, MP3s, or the radio – music is a big part of their lives.
There are 2 potential problems here:
1. Getting distracted while you change stations or CDs
2. Having the music so loud that it drowns out noises from outside the car including sirens, horns and even screams!
NOTE: Headphones and earbuds are illegal in many places. The driver of a car should NEVER wear them.
Passengers
Question: What do you get when you put 3 or more teens together?
Answer: A party!
Teens like to have fun and a car provides lots of opportunity for laughs. But some teens pressure each other to take risks and do things they wouldn’t do on their own.
| 47% of teens admit that passengers sometimes distract them. (2005 Allstate Foundation Study) |
Research proves that the more teens are in the car, the more likely it is to be involved in a crash.
Some teens think it’s funny to cover the driver’s eyes or tickle them when they’re driving.
Eating and Drinking
You need two hands on the wheel. Eating and drinking are distractions that take your mind off driving and at least one hand off the wheel.
Pull over to eat or drink. You’ll enjoy it more and you aren’t as likely to spill ketchup on your shirt or hot coffee in your lap.
Are there some foods that you should never eat in cars? What about:
- Pasta
- Salads
- Meats that needs to be cut with a knife
- Foods that are dipped in something else
Smoking
Smoking is stupid, smelly and unhealthy. Ashes fall and burn holes in your clothes and upholstery. Smoking lowers the resale value of your vehicle and leaves sticky yellow scum on your windshield. It’s also a distraction that takes a hand off the wheel.
Fires have been started when drivers accidentally drop their cigarettes or flick their butts into the back seat. Passengers are exposed to second-hand-smoke.
There’s simply no ‘upside’ to smoking in the car.
To see eamples of these distractions and others watch the video above.
