Distracted driving has become a leading cause of car collisions in Coral Gables and across the country, and unfortunately the number of distractions in our lives is only increasing. When drivers are not focused on the road and on driving, even for a few seconds, they can easily cause a pedestrian accident, multiple car collision, or other tragedy.
There are plenty of distractions in our world today, from smart phones to endless to-do lists. We may be on call or get messages all day and we may even be wearing smart watches or other technology that beeps at us or demands our attention when we drive. Whenever our mind wanders behind the wheel or we remove our eyes from the road or our hands from the wheel—even for a second—a car collision can happen.
How to Stop Distracted Driving in Coral Gables
If you’re driving in Coral Gables, you may not have much control over how cautious other drivers are, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk of driving distracted yourself:
- Be conscientious about technology: There’s no doubt that technology is a big contributing factor when it comes to distraction. Put away your mobile devices and turn your smart watch or other devices on airplane mod.
- Consider your car’s tech: Today, dashboards can include screens with graphics and essentially small computers. If you’re following your route on your dashboard screen or reading the name of a song, you’re distracted. Look at your car’s owner’s manual to find ways to turn off the screen or at least to reduce any functions you’re distracted by. You might also want to avoid getting voice texts or taking calls while you drive. Even hands-free technology can mean you get focused on your conversation rather than driving.
- Get into the right frame of mind for driving: While it’s easy to switch off your devices, it’s harder to turn off distracting thoughts. Yet if you’re thinking about an argument you’ve had or are just daydreaming, you are driving distracted. Before you step in your car, make sure you’re mentally prepared to focus.
- Consider your life outside of driving: If you have too much to do, it’s easy to put tasks like driving on autopilot, so you’re not fully focused on driving and instead thinking about other tasks. Take a look at your life as a whole. If you feel overwhelmed and overextended, consider whether there are any steps you can take to manage your time so you can put your whole focus on one task at a time. This makes you safer as a driver and may reduce your risk of workplace injury, too.
- Become a defensive driver: Defensive driving, a practice where you’re thinking a few steps ahead, is an effective way to prevent your mind from wandering. It can also help you avoid some accidents because you are anticipating situations on the road. Taking a defensive driving class or refresher course can be a great way to become a better, safer driver.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you can still be injured in a collision, especially if other motorists are reckless and driving distracted. Unfortunately, distracted driving is not always obvious. If you have been injured in a car collision, consider working with a Coral Gables car collision claims attorney. Attorneys can help gather evidence of distraction and recklessness to strengthen your case.
If you’d like to work with a legal team with more than 60 years of combined experience, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation. Our team has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of thousands of plaintiffs and in a no-cost consultation we can review whether you may have a claim.