Avoiding distractions while driving could save your life

You’ve seen them on the roads; you might even know a few

of them.

And you could be one yourself.

Distracted drivers in come in all shapes, sizes, ages and

experience levels. Even if you’re not one today, you could become one at any

moment — in the time it takes you to answer your cell phone or check the kids

in the back seat when you’re driving.

If you or someone else you know thinks you can drive just

fine while talking on your phone, think about this: More than 450,000 people

were injured in crashes that reportedly involved distracted driving in 2009,

according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than

5,000 of those people died.

Distractions on the road come in many forms, according to

www.distraction.gov, a U.S. Department of Transportation

website. There are three main kinds of distractions:

Visual – taking your eyes off the road

Manual –taking your hands off the wheel

Cognitive – taking your mind off what you’re doing

To help you avoid all three kinds of distractions the

next time you’re behind the wheel of your car

here are a few tips:

Put your phone in silent mode and store it away from the

front seat or in a purse or bag. This helps reduce temptation.

Have a passenger answer your phone or return text

messages for you.

If a call or a text can’t wait, pull over in a safe spot

before using your phone.

This one seems obvious, but finish shaving or applying

makeup before you get in the car!

If you’re emotional, wait until you’ve calmed down before

hitting the road.

Avoid road rage. You’ll be happier and safer.

Whenever you’re on the road, it’s not a time to

multi-task. Focus on driving safely.