There are many distractions in life but when it comes to the road, it is important to alleviate all distractions. When you try to do two things at once, your brain is forced to shift focus. This includes:

• Talking on the phone

• Texting

• Grooming yourself

• Social Media

• Eating

• Adjusting your GPS

• Playing with your radio

• Reading

The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 400,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting. Texting is probably the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

5 Solutions To Prevent Distracted Driving

1. Use your cell phone for emergencies only. It is best to pull over safely to the right shoulder to make a call or send a text, if there is an emergency.

2. Multi-task outside of the car. We all spend a lot of time in our cars, so it may seem like the perfect time to get little things done: calling our friends, searching for that song you want to hear, or even brushing your teeth because you’re running late for an important meeting. Don’t do it. Focus on the road, others around you and make sure to have everything settled before driving.

3. If you are drowsy, pull off the road. Drowsiness can increase the risk of a crash by four times! If you get tired, get off the road.

4. Avoid eating while driving. It is best to avoid eating anything while you are driving, but especially avoid messy foods that can be difficult to manage.

5. Limit the activity inside the car. Carpooling is great but sometimes passengers can be a dangerous distraction. Driving with friends can create a dangerous driving environment because drivers can become more focused on their friends than the road.