July 13, 2022

Safety tips to prevent distracted driving this summer

With road trips and travel plans underway, it’s no surprise that people tend to drive 20% more miles during the summer months, and along with that, distracted driving also increases by 8%. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, distracted driving resulted in 431 fatalities and 2,934 injuries in 2021. With these grim statistics in mind, it’s important to remember that distracted driving crashes are preventable. Whether driving for leisure or work, it’s crucial to take extra precautions with more drivers on the road, which is why we’re sharing driving tips to help you reach your next destination safely.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at 55 mph, sending or reading a text is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. While cell phones are a major cause of accidents, anything that takes the driver’s attention away from driving can also be a distraction. There are three main types of distractions:

• Visual: Anything that takes your eyes off the road.
• Manual: Anything that takes your hands off the wheel.
• Cognitive: Anything that takes your mind off the primary task of driving.

Here are some tips to help you drive safely and kick distractions to the curb:

Safety prep before getting behind the wheel

• Keep up with any regular vehicle maintenance and ensure items like brakes, lights and wipers are in good condition.
• Prevent tire blowouts caused by higher temperatures by checking your tire pressure weekly.
• Before getting in your vehicle, finish any grooming, eating or drinking.
• Plan your route ahead of time so you can avoid work zones, traffic delays and set your GPS if needed.
• Set up an autoreply on your mobile device to inform coworkers, friends and family that you are currently driving and will return calls and texts once you are safely stopped.
• Make sure to adjust your seat, mirrors and climate controls before getting on the road.
• Select your music, podcast or audio book beforehand.

Keeping safety top of mind while driving

• Avoid driving while fatigued by getting enough rest, stopping for breaks and driving during the day.
• Manage glare and heat by using sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, keeping your windshield clean and utilizing a sunshade when your car is parked.
• Eliminate the urge to use your cell phone by placing it out of sight or turning it off.
• Drive defensively by scanning the road for any potential hazards so you can slow down or change lanes accordingly.
• Be sure to stay alert and focused, especially when using cruise control.
• When driving in heavy traffic or poor weather conditions, lower your speed.
• If a situation cannot wait, pull over once it’s safe to do so.
• All passengers in the vehicle should wear a seatbelt and try to reduce or eliminate distractions for the driver.

Driving requires your full concentration, that’s why the key to staying safe behind the wheel is keeping your mind focused on driving. At Texas Mutual, we’re deeply committed to keeping Texans safe on the roads, so we took a stand against distracted driving. Over five years ago, we adopted a companywide phone-free while driving policy to keep employees safe, help build good driving habits and do our part to keep others safe on the road. Since then, safe driving has become part of our company’s safety culture. We hope you’ll join us in committing to distraction free driving at work and in your personal life.

For free resources on safe driving, check out our Safety best practices page. Policyholders can also log in to their Texas Mutual Online (TMO) account to access our safety resource catalog.