In this day and age, life moves fast on and off the road. As cellphones have become increasingly prevalent in our lives, there are a thousand distractions keeping us from putting our full attention on the road. When concerns over cellphone use during driving first arose, the most you could do on your phone was take a call or maybe type out a short text. Today, your phone probably has a whole array of messaging and social media apps, all of which can send you notifications. That is not even to mention text messages and email. All together, each of us gets anywhere from dozens to hundreds of notifications a day.
Even while driving, it can be difficult to ignore notifications and focus on the road. You may think to yourself, “it’ll only take a second to respond to this text,” but everything can go wrong in just a few seconds while barreling down the freeway. In those five seconds you have your attention on your phone, the road conditions can change drastically. By not paying attention, you are putting yourself and others in extreme danger.
How to Avoid Texting While Driving
- In order to keep yourself and others safe, try these useful tips to help keep the phone out of your hand and your eyes on the road.
- Try putting your phone out of reach. For example, toss your phone in the glove box or backseat, or even the trunk before getting on the road. While on the road, your phone will be too hard to reach for you to get easily distracted. If you are desperate enough to pull over and take your phone out of the trunk, you might want to speak to a medical professional rather than a mechanic.
- Put your phone on silent or Do Not Disturb mode. Not knowing about all your notifications on your drive to work will not hurt you. On most phones, this is as easy as turning on airplane mode. While on airplane mode, you will not be able to send or receive messages or calls.
- If traveling with friends or family, choose a designated texter! They can respond to texts, talk on the phone, get directions, or find the nearest coffee shop so the driver can keep their eyes on the road.
- Consider downloading an app designed to keep you from texting while driving. Some apps lock your phone for a set amount of time, while others lock your access to applications when they detect you traveling at speeds above 10 MPH.
Help keep yourself safe and secure by not adding any more distractions when driving. Safety is of utmost importance to us at Dallas European Auto. Come see us in Plano, TX, or contact us to see how we can help you keep your car running smoothly and safely.
