It seems like the older I get, the more gadgets I seem to attain in my life. This can lead to distracted driving, which can lead to crashes and tragedy. To help us stayed focused on the task at hand, driving safely, the Auto Alliance and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons have created a website with information, statistics and helpful advice for everyone, Decide to Drive. The Decide to Drive program aims to empower drivers and passengers to speak up about distracted driving, continue the conversation at home, work and play, and reduce distracted behaviors behind the wheel.
There are many reasons to stop being distracted while driving. Personally, it is my 3 beautiful children who look to me to be a responsible adult and keep them safe. My children tend to imitate my behavior so I try really hard to be a great example while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes.
My oldest daughter will be getting her learner’s permit this summer and while I’m excited for her, I hope she remembers all my tips that I’ve shared with her over the years.
Here are few tips I’ve tried to instill into my children about driving:
- avoid cell phone use
- don’t drive while being tired
- no personal grooming to include applying makeup or fixing hair
- keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times
- don’t adjust your navigation, ipod, radio, cd player, or bluetooth
- no texting or updating social media
- no eating or drinking
- no reading
Check out this “Wreck-Less Checklist from the Decide To Drive Campaign that you can look over for yourself or share with someone else!
Remember, the most advanced safety feature of any vehicle is the DRIVER. The AAOS and the Auto Alliance urges all drivers to keep their most sophisticated safety features engaged at all times: eyes on the road and hands on the wheel and #DecideToDrive!
Please join my family and decide to drive without distractions today and every day. Get involved with this great cause. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Keep up with other great posts by using the #DecideToDrive hashtag too.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons on Facebook
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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