Spotting Distractions and Dodging Them

Distracted driving sneaks up in many guises—visual, manual, cognitive, and auditory:

• Visual distractions snatch your eyes off the road, like peeking at texts, checking maps or GPS, or rubbernecking at roadside scenes.
• Manual distractions mean hands off the wheel for anything, from texting, twiddling the radio, snacking, to fixing your hair.
• Cognitive distractions happen when your mind wanders away from driving, maybe you’re deep in chat or drifting into daydreams.
• Auditory distractions are noises that disrupt your focus, like blasting tunes or chatting on the phone.

Steps to Stay Focused

Boost your safety behind the wheel with these tactics:

• Lock up your phone: Silence it and stash it away to avoid peeks.
• Prep your route: Punch in your destination before you hit the road to avoid mid-trip fiddling with your GPS.
• Handle your tunes wisely: Pick your playlist or station in advance and keep the volume to a non-distracting level.
• Leverage tech for safety: Utilize hands-free gadgets, voice commands, and other tech in your vehicle aimed at keeping you safe.
• Single-tasking is key: Eating, primping, or any other side activities while driving is a no-go.
• Eyes on the road: Keep chatter light, distractions at bay, and your focus forward.
• Rule following is a must: Stick to all workplace, local, state, and federal rules about distracted driving.

Wrap-Up

The risks associated with distracted driving are significant and immediate. By identifying distractions and actively seeking to reduce them, we significantly increase our chances of decreasing accidents. Business owners and supervisors are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring employees fully commit to these practices to optimally prevent accidents.

Are you a builder wanting to protect your profits? I specialize in safeguarding builders’ financial well-being. Contact Geoff today!

Phone: 203-665-6614 | Email: gknapp@toofer.com