Driving distractions are one of the top causes of auto accidents. Distracted driving happens in three ways:
- When a driver takes their eyes off the road
- When a driver takes their hands off the wheel
- When a driver loses focus on driving
Phones are one of the leading causes of distracted driving. Drivers can take proactive steps to reduce phone distractions. Here is what you should know:
1. Put your phone on silent mode
Most phones have the option to silence notifications. This option can silence calls, texts and alerts from social media and game applications. Some phones also have “driving mode,” which silences the phone automatically when it senses that it is in a moving vehicle.
2. Put your phone out of reach
A driver may still look at their phone out of habit. This may be an especially hard habit to break for people who use their phones daily. To combat this habit, drivers can put their phones out of reach, such as in their glove compartment or back seat. If the driver’s phone is out of reach, they may be less likely to use it.
3. Turn off your phone
Another way to combat the habit of looking at a phone out of habit is to turn off the phone. Drivers will still receive notifications from calls and texts, but they will be delayed until the driver turns their phone back on.
4. Downgrade your phone
Some people are taking steps to combat phone distractions in their daily lives by downgrading their phones to “dumb phones.” These phones often lack social media apps, which can help cut down on how often people feel they need to look at their phones.
Another driver may have caused your injuries in a car accident because they were distracted by their phone. If this happens to you, you may be entitled to damages for your medical bills and repair costs. You can learn more by reaching out for legal help.
