Keep your head in the game and your eyes on the road
We all know the dangers of driving under the influence, speeding or driving when tired. The New Zealand Government has launched strong campaigns in recent years to show the impact of ignoring these risks.
In 2009 a further danger was highlighted by a new law banning cell phone use while driving. Driving whilst distracted is a common cause of accidents ranging from minor to fatal.
Distractions that have been found to be most common in New Zealand include;
Other passengers
Other passengers are one of the most common causes of accidents related to driver distraction. E.G. children making noise or needing attention, arguing whilst driving with a passenger, noise created by passengers.
Cell phones, talking and texting
Despite the law change in November 2009 many drivers still use their hand held mobile phones whilst driving. Speaking on the phone when driving is a distraction, but perhaps the biggest distraction comes from texting. When texting your eyes might not be on the road, even for a split second this is extremely dangerous.
Eating
It is hard to avoid this, especially on long trips, however eating while driving can take your focus off the task at hand. The risk of distraction comes from drinks being spilled or food being dropped causing the driver to lose focus.
Other common distractions include:
It only takes a second of distraction to cause a serious accident. Any of the above can affect the driver’s concentration. When you are driving you must ignore distractions and concentrate on your driving.
Here are some tips for avoiding distractions and staying safe on the road;
When driving always keep your eye on the road. It is easy to be distracted by what’s going on inside the car or even outside the car but make sure you maintain awareness at all times so you can spot potential hazards.
If you have passengers make sure they keep the noise level down, avoid arguing with others in the car. If you have children in the car try laying the ground rules down at an early age around what is appropriate for in the car. Do not try to discipline children while driving, pull over to do it.
Do not text or talk on your phone while driving. Either turn your phone off when in transit or be prepared to pull over to use the phone. Your other option is to get a hands free car kit.
Do not read while driving, this takes your focus off the road. If you have to read a map to find your way, pull over. A distracted driver is a danger to everyone on the roads. When you are driving make sure the only thing you do is drive.
For more road safety information, please see the New Zealand Road Code at www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode