3 Tips to Help You Stay Focused on the Road

3 Tips to Help You Stay Focused on the Road

Everyone knows the importance of safe driving, and it never hurts to brush up on your skills to ensure you’re secure behind the wheel. 

Unfortunately, even if you’re a seasoned driver, distracted driving has become a big problem for everyone, especially since there are currently 3.5 billion smartphone users in the world. 

Some distracted driving statistics are downright scary, including the fact that distracted driving contributes to 400,000 injury-involved car accidents in the U.S. alone each year!

While these statistics are frightening and we all know we should stay focused while on the road, it’s not always that easy. So, what can you do to re-center your focus and be less distracted when you’re behind the wheel? Let’s look at a few tips you can start using immediately. 

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1. Only Use Your Phone for Emergencies

When you’re behind the wheel, you should only ever use your cell phone for emergency purposes. Even then, instead of talking while you’re driving, try to pull over to the side of the road to use it. 

You might think it’s better to use hands-free devices that allow you to talk with your hands on the wheel. While those are better than holding onto your phone with one hand, it’s still impossible to be fully focused on the road while you’re having a conversation. Wait until you’re done driving so you can give your full attention to the conversation itself, too!

2. Never Drive Drowsy

Driving at night or for long periods of time can cause “driver fatigue.” It’s far too easy to get lulled to sleep by the steady motion and sounds of a car. If you feel drowsy behind the wheel, let someone else drive or pull over and rest. Even a short break can give you some energy. 

When you drive drowsy, you’re not only putting yourself in danger. You’re putting your passengers and other people on the road in danger. Even if you don’t fall asleep, it’s hard to stay focused when you’re exhausted. Losing that focus for even a second can contribute to an accident. 

3. Limit the Number of People in the Car

Some places have laws that don’t allow teenage or novice drivers to have more than one or two people in the car with them. Those laws are lifted as you get older, but it’s still a good rule of thumb to keep in mind. When you’re with your friends, you might find yourself getting distracted by conversations, music, laughter, etc. 

If you find that you’re easily distracted, especially when you spend time in larger groups, make a commitment to only have one or two people in your car with you at any given time. The less activity in the car itself, the easier it will be to focus on the road. Remember, when you’re driving with passengers, you have other people’s lives in your hands, too!

While these tips might be nothing but reminders of things you already know, they’re good to keep in mind if you feel you’ve lost a little bit of focus behind the wheel. The good news? You can re-gain it immediately by using these suggestions and practicing safe habits on the road. 

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
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