1000’s of lives are destroyed yearly due to distracted driving. Many incidents are avoidable, and Smith System stays dedicated to ending distracted driving and turning the tide on the horrifying statistics.

Distracted Driving Consciousness Month is a superb alternative to boost consciousness about potential distractions and alter behaviors to make the roads safer for everybody.

Understanding Distracted Driving

A distraction diverts a driver’s consideration from driving with full focus and management. Distractions come from all types of issues like expertise, passengers, and daydreaming.

Distractions are inclined to fall into three classes:

• Visible distractions trigger you to take your eyes off the street.
• Guide distractions trigger you to take your palms off the steering wheel.
• Cognitive distractions trigger your thoughts to wander from driving.

By remembering the Smith5Keys®, we will set ourselves up to reply to a spread of potential distractions safely and responsibly.

In response to statistics from the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019 alone in the USA, and it continues to be a number one reason for crashes. Moreover, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) stories that every day in the USA, roughly 9 individuals are killed, and greater than 1,000 are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver.

How Smith System Tackles Distracted Driving

Smith System promotes a proactive method to counteract distractions and instills protected driving habits by coaching and expertise. Every of the Smith5Keys® promotes consciousness and focus (and ignores distractions) behind the wheel.

For instance, when scanning 15 seconds forward (Purpose Excessive in Steering®), you may acknowledge, anticipate, and adapt to potential hazards in good time. Likewise, by conserving your eyes transferring and sustaining consciousness of the large image fairly than fixing on a single level, you’re much less prone to “zone out” and daydream.

Creating an area cushion round your car (Depart Your self an Out®) ensures the elevated capability to reply if one thing distracts you. That is additionally very important in mitigating potential distracted drivers. Tailgating is harmful for a lot of causes; first, it is going to doubtless distract the motive force forward. And secondly, it decreases response occasions if the opposite driver does one thing sudden as a result of they’re distracted.

By incorporating the Smith5Keys®, drivers can cut back the danger of accidents and navigate safely by varied driving circumstances, together with these the place distractions are prevalent.

Why Your Group Wants a Distracted Driving Coverage

Past particular person duty, organizations are essential in (and liable for) selling protected driving practices amongst their workers. Implementing a distracted driving coverage shouldn’t be solely an ethical crucial but additionally a sensible necessity for any enterprise.

If a driver is concerned in a crash, it impacts an organization’s funds, authorized standing, and fame. The estimated common value is round $72,442 for an accident brought on by distracted driving.

It’s important to have a distracted driving coverage in place to your workers when they’re conducting firm enterprise. Suppose considered one of your drivers is concerned in a deadly accident whereas utilizing a cellular phone, for instance. In that case, the group faces extreme penalties if they’re with out sufficient coaching and firm insurance policies. There have been multi-million greenback settlements for the households of victims of distracted drivers. These are avoidable prices which might be by no means well worth the danger at any stage.

For this reason driver coaching, telematics, and evaluation are so essential. With out monitoring and coaching drivers, there is no strategy to know whether or not or not pointless dangers and poor habits are taking place. It may not even happen to some drivers they’re doing something harmful till they undergo a coaching program.

Smith System stays steadfast in its dedication to combating distracted driving by selling consciousness and equipping drivers with the instruments they should keep centered on the street. Via the implementation of the Smith5Keys® and the event of distracted driving insurance policies, organizations can play a pivotal position in guaranteeing the protection of their workers and the broader neighborhood. 

In honor of Distracted Driving Month Smith System is offering our Arrive Alive Course for FREE.