Distracted Driving

Every driver must pass their driving test to legally operate a vehicle on the road. However, some drivers are more likely to do things against what they learned and cause accidents. There are two common actions drivers do that cause many accidents. Here’s what you should know: Texting and driving Texting and driving is a chronic problem. Drivers who use their phones while operating a vehicle are at risk of distractions. A distraction is anything that would momentarily divert a driver's visual or mental focus from the road or cause them to take their hands off the wheel. The reason why...

Distracted driving isn't just irresponsible. It is also against the law in Ohio. Those who text at the wheel could end up pulled over and cited or possibly declared responsible for a crash. Drivers should keep their focus on the road rather than interacting with mobile devices or otherwise distracting them from road conditions and everyone's safety. The unfortunate truth is that anxious or drivers in Ohio may try to split their focus between driving and another activity. While some people are honest and will admit that they became distracted and therefore caused a crash, many others will try...

Drivers must be well rested to be able to drive safely. It’s recommended that adults get at least seven hours of sleep each night. However, the number of hours a person sleeps at night won’t matter if they aren’t getting quality sleep. A fatigued driver doesn’t have the swift reaction time that can be needed to remain safe. There aren’t any quick fixes for driver fatigue. The only way you can stop fatigue is to get the proper sleep. Circadian rhythm affects driver fatigue The body’s natural sleep cycle can have an impact on fatigue. People who are on the road at night or working overnight...

Millions of people have smartwatches in this country, and that number is expected to continue to rise. What many people don’t realize is that these are quickly becoming a bigger distraction for drivers than even smartphones. Many states don’t have laws that specifically address smartwatches, so it’s often up to police officers to interpret what’s going on and how the law applies. One thing’s for certain – distracted driving is dangerous driving. Because of this, all drivers should avoid distractions. What’s so dangerous about smartwatches? One study compared how drivers handled alerts from a...

The authorities have tried many things to put an end to texting and driving. They know that it causes serious accidents and costs the United States hundreds or even thousands of lives every year. In fact, it’s sometimes been likened to drunk driving, which saw its own opposition movement with the rise of groups like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Some studies have even concluded that, though both practices are dangerous, and drivers should never engage in either one, drunk driving was actually safer than texting and driving. So, how can the authorities end this practice? Sometimes, they just...

You have every intention of avoiding distractions while driving, but things have a way of changing when you’re behind the wheel. Even safe drivers fall prey to distractions every now and again Here are some of the many things you should worry about: Texting  Talking on the phone Conversing with passengers Eating and drinking Daydreaming Smoking All of these things, among others, can and probably will take your attention away from the road. And when that happens, the risk of an accident goes through the roof. Here are some steps you can take to prevent these distractions, among others, from...

“Make mine to go, please.” How many times have you said that to the food server when you’ve been in a hurry? How many times have you crawled out of bed, filled your travel mug with coffee, jumped into your car and drove off to work? We’ve all done it. Driving with our wrists on the wheel, a coffee in one hand and some food in the other. However, it’s a terrible idea.   Have you ever considered how dangerous eating and drinking while driving is?  Try something: Fill your travel mug with hot coffee and go and sit in your car, with the engine switched off. Now lift your cup to your mouth. What...

Summer brings fair weather and vacations -- so it's no surprise that lots of people head out on the road in their cars. Apparently, it's also the season for distracted driving. According to statistics, there's a spike in car accident deaths every year from June through August. The increase is an eye-popping 29 percent above the number of accident deaths from December through February. Why the sharp increase in car accidents and related deaths during the summer? Researchers say that the increase is largely the result of distracted driving. Data that's been collected from over 20,000 drivers...

Do you know a driver who is constantly checking his or her text messages while behind the wheel? Maybe you know someone who gets so distracted listening to a morning podcast that he or she has accidentally cut someone off in traffic? If so, you might want to give that person some warning that the Highway Patrol is watching for just that sort of thing -- especially along the nation's first "Safety Corridor." The section of highway that's been given that distinction is the part of Interstate 76 and Interstate 80 between State Routes 534 and 193 near Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. It's one of the...