Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is leading the effort to stop texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. Since 2009, they have held two national distracted driving summits, banned texting and cell phone use for commercial drivers, encouraged states to adopt tough laws, and launched several campaigns to raise public awareness about the issue.

One of the best ways for drivers to avoid crashes is to avoid distractions. Activities, such as texting, eating, or playing loud music while driving, are unnecessary distractions. By paying attention and eliminating potential distractions, you can ensure safety on the road.

Types of Distractions: Knowing what the three main types of distractions are can help you recognize activities that could potentially be distracting you from driving.

Manual - taking your hands off the wheel
Visual - taking your eyes off the road
Cognitive - taking your mind off driving

Texting: A Major Cause of Distraction

Texting is one of the leading causes of distracted driving in the country, and here is why it is so dangerous: it encompasses all three of the major types of distractions. It requires you to manually take your hands off the wheel, you are looking at your cell phone instead of the road, and you have to mentally digest what you are reading and think up a response - which takes your mind off driving.

Stay Off the Phone, Even Hands-Free Phones

Hands free does not mean distraction free. The real issue at the core of talking on a mobile device while you are driving is cognitive distraction. This means being distracted mentally by the topic of a conversation, as opposed to being physically distracted by operating the phone. The answer to avoiding this kind of distraction is simply not answering your cell phone when driving. If you absolutely have to, such as in the case of an emergency, either keep it extremely short or pull over and park.

Driver training never really ends; it is a constantly evolving education that starts when you get your learner’s permit and continues indefinitely. Nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. It is important that when we do, we take steps to correct those mistakes for the benefit of ourselves and those on the road with us. Staying focused behind the wheel and avoiding distractions is a fundamental part of that, and is a lesson that should be shared not only with new drivers, but with drivers of all ages.