Distracted Driving

Are Social Media Apps Responsible for the Actions of Drivers Using Them?

Checking your smartphone while driving is tough to resist for many people. Whether it’s to read the latest Twitter feed, see who “liked” a Facebook post or take a photo to share on Snapchat or Instagram, people check their phones constantly. Numerous studies conducted about cell phone usage while driving has shown that it causes distractions and often leads to accidents. And in some states, including California, all hands-on use of cell phones is against the law. California’s new restrictions on cell phone usage took effect in January of this year. [Read more…]

New California Law will Prohibit Social Media Use while Driving

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The new bill, signed by governor Jerry Brown, expands on the current cell phone restrictions already in place. Effective January 1st, all hands-on cell phone use while behind the wheel will be illegal. This will include social media use, searching the Internet, music browsing, and GPS programming. The new bill, AB 1785, was created in response to the growing amount of social media use while driving, particularly in heavy, slow traffic. This has resulted in an increased amount of accidents and distracted driving since the previous bills, SB 1613 in 2006 prohibiting phone calls and SB 28 in 2008 prohibiting texting, were put into place.

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Safety Tips To Remember On The Road

Distracted Driving At Night

June is National Safety Month, an annual effort to educate people and influence their behaviors on the leading causes of preventable injuries and death. As the summer nears, many families and friends will begin planning their road trips around the country. Staying safe on the road is one of the top priorities of National Safety Month, and those at the National Safety Council want to make sure that everyone does their part to keep the roads as safe as possible. For National Safety Month, here are some important driving safety tips:
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How New Technology in Vehicles can be Distracting

Most new cars have quite a bit of technology built into the vehicle.  Some of it is for safety, while other technology is for convenience of the driver and passengers.  Although most of this new technology is designed to allow the driver to focus on the road and not have to worry about dialing a phone or looking at a map, it can still cause quite a bit of distraction.  In 2012 alone, 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.

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Bumper Sensors

Many cars have sensors on the front and rear bumpers to alert you if there is something close to your vehicle.  This can be helpful when you are parking, backing out of a driveway or quickly approaching an unexpected object, person or vehicle.  However, when a sensor goes off, the drivers first reaction is to identify which sensor is being activated.  By doing this, it takes the drivers eyes or attention off the road, creating a distraction.  If one of your sensors is activated, be sure to note the sensor, but don’t let it distract you from the action you are taking.  When in doubt, stop and assess the situation before proceeding.  [Read more…]

Cell Phones Are the Most Dangerous Form of Distracted Driving

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving is a growing problem on our roadways. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2012 alone.

Distraction.gov, the official U.S. Government website for distracted driving, reports that the youngest and most inexperienced drivers are most at risk, with 16% of all distracted driving crashes involving drivers under the age of 20. [Read more…]

How to Teach your Teen to be a Safe, Responsible Driver

You’ve held their hands, taught them their ABC’s and watched them grow into young adults. Now it’s time to take the next steps in caring for your teens – teaching them to be safe, responsible drivers. Driving lessons, professional instructors and safety courses are a great start. Today’s high-tech world, however, brings with it challenges and distractions that past generations didn’t have to deal with. [Read more…]