Drivers have to deal with many new distractions today that they didn't have to a decade ago, and those attention-stealers are responsible for crashes that are very costly in terms of both money and lives. Fortunately, the people who see the damage that is caused by in-car diversions have put together tips for controlling and steering clear of them.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois is in the business of fixing some of the costliest mistakes people make on the roadways. At one point in time, all a driver had to distract himself with was a lousy AM radio. Now, there are high-tech electronic gizmos onboard that could probably pilot a space shuttle if they really wanted to, and they can all reduce a driver’s concentration.
These tips can greatly reduce the possibility of a crash and make a trip less stressful for everyone involved.
• Adopt a strict zero-texting policy – According to figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the possibility of getting into a crash is 23 times greater for individuals who are sending and receiving text messages while traveling. A vehicle cruising along at fifty-five miles per hour will cover the length of a football field during the 4.6 seconds it will take to type or receive a message. Driving while texting is actually comparable to driving while intoxicated. A text message is great because it will be waiting for you when there's time to pull over and take a look at it.
• Limit or eliminate cell phone use while you are driving – Research done by Australia’s Monash University Accident Research Centre found that the use of handheld devices like a mobile phone boosts crash and injury possibility by around four hundred percent. If a passenger is on board, let that individual conduct the conversation while you are driving.
• Use a hands-free device, but only for calls that are absolutely necessary - Carnegie Mellon used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to view brain activity of people answering a series of true/false questions while simulating driving on a computer monitor. They found a thirty-seven percent decrease in the brain’s ability to determine spatial relationships when the “driver” concentrated on answering the questions that were given to them. This information shows that any conversation with a person who isn't in the passenger compartment decreases the driver’s reflexes behind the wheel.
• Program GPS receivers before launching out on a trip or errand – Portable and in-dash GPS devices are largely helpful for getting people where they want to go, especially those that give step-by-step directions audibly. They are only useful, however, if the driver doesn't try to input information while in motion. Most GPS devices prominently display a legal warning against this type of action before they can even be used.
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• Learn all of your car’s instruments and adjustments before pulling out of the driveway – Modern cars have tons of buttons, switches and handles that might need adjustment while on the road, and a motorist has to be very familiar with them to avoid distraction. Changing the windshield wipers, headlights, radio settings, climate controls, seat height, steering wheel angle and emergency flashers can distract a driver long enough to trigger an accident.
• Save eating and drinking for a rest stop – It seems as though Americans have perfected the art of eating and driving, which is why cars created for the U.S. market have more cup holders than seats a lot of the time. According to the NHTSA, a motorist’s cup of coffee and muffin are about as distracting as a cell phone conversation.
• Keep children and pets in authorized seats or areas – Crash-test technical engineers have decided on the safest positions for children of different sizes and ages in automobiles. Following applicable federal and state laws also decreases a parent’s chance of distraction while driving because the child is much less likely to get injured or into serious trouble in a moving car if they are fully restrained. Letting animals roam freely inside a vehicle is not simply a terrible idea; it is against the law in some states as legislators crack down on distracted driving.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois, also fixing cars in Waterloo, Southern Illinois, Millstadt, Freeburg and New Athens, want you to know that there are lots of ways to decrease the quantity of hazardous distractions within an automobile. These tips address just a couple of the major areas that are easy for the majority of people to repair. Anything a driver can do to focus on the road will simply improve the chances of a safe arrival.
For more tips on driving and automotive collision repair, visit www.auto-body-columbia-il.com. CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts nothing but the highest quality, reliable repair service in 32 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Just call 1-800-CARSTAR when you want an automobile repair, and they'll send a tow truck, contact your insurance agency, plan for a rental car and fix your car.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois is in the business of fixing some of the costliest mistakes people make on the roadways. At one point in time, all a driver had to distract himself with was a lousy AM radio. Now, there are high-tech electronic gizmos onboard that could probably pilot a space shuttle if they really wanted to, and they can all reduce a driver’s concentration.
These tips can greatly reduce the possibility of a crash and make a trip less stressful for everyone involved.
• Adopt a strict zero-texting policy – According to figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the possibility of getting into a crash is 23 times greater for individuals who are sending and receiving text messages while traveling. A vehicle cruising along at fifty-five miles per hour will cover the length of a football field during the 4.6 seconds it will take to type or receive a message. Driving while texting is actually comparable to driving while intoxicated. A text message is great because it will be waiting for you when there's time to pull over and take a look at it.
• Limit or eliminate cell phone use while you are driving – Research done by Australia’s Monash University Accident Research Centre found that the use of handheld devices like a mobile phone boosts crash and injury possibility by around four hundred percent. If a passenger is on board, let that individual conduct the conversation while you are driving.
• Use a hands-free device, but only for calls that are absolutely necessary - Carnegie Mellon used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to view brain activity of people answering a series of true/false questions while simulating driving on a computer monitor. They found a thirty-seven percent decrease in the brain’s ability to determine spatial relationships when the “driver” concentrated on answering the questions that were given to them. This information shows that any conversation with a person who isn't in the passenger compartment decreases the driver’s reflexes behind the wheel.
• Program GPS receivers before launching out on a trip or errand – Portable and in-dash GPS devices are largely helpful for getting people where they want to go, especially those that give step-by-step directions audibly. They are only useful, however, if the driver doesn't try to input information while in motion. Most GPS devices prominently display a legal warning against this type of action before they can even be used.
• Save eating and drinking for a rest stop – It seems as though Americans have perfected the art of eating and driving, which is why cars created for the U.S. market have more cup holders than seats a lot of the time. According to the NHTSA, a motorist’s cup of coffee and muffin are about as distracting as a cell phone conversation.
• Keep children and pets in authorized seats or areas – Crash-test technical engineers have decided on the safest positions for children of different sizes and ages in automobiles. Following applicable federal and state laws also decreases a parent’s chance of distraction while driving because the child is much less likely to get injured or into serious trouble in a moving car if they are fully restrained. Letting animals roam freely inside a vehicle is not simply a terrible idea; it is against the law in some states as legislators crack down on distracted driving.
Charlie's Columbia CARSTAR in Columbia, Illinois, also fixing cars in Waterloo, Southern Illinois, Millstadt, Freeburg and New Athens, want you to know that there are lots of ways to decrease the quantity of hazardous distractions within an automobile. These tips address just a couple of the major areas that are easy for the majority of people to repair. Anything a driver can do to focus on the road will simply improve the chances of a safe arrival.
For more tips on driving and automotive collision repair, visit www.auto-body-columbia-il.com. CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts nothing but the highest quality, reliable repair service in 32 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Just call 1-800-CARSTAR when you want an automobile repair, and they'll send a tow truck, contact your insurance agency, plan for a rental car and fix your car.