Multitasking Behind the Wheel

May we have your undivided attention, please?

Of the 210 million licensed drivers in the United States, 660,000 of them are also using a cell phone or an electronic device while driving, according to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey. These drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash, according to research from the National Safety Council.

Multitasking behind the wheel takes your attention away from driving and puts you and others at risk of an accident.

Multitasking creates unintended consequences

Drivers can veer off of the road while switching the radio station, answering a phone call, or looking at GPS devices. Often this leads to overcorrection, loss of control, and an accident.

Many drivers multitask as a way to save time, but time savings might not balance out the monetary losses. The average claim for a property damage crash was $2,246 in 2014, according to Grinnell Mutual’s Claims Division. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2012, the most recent data available.

(Read more about teens, mobile phones, and driving.)

Five habits to stop multitasking when you drive

1. Prepare for the trip. Enter the destination into your GPS or map app so that you’re not putting it in while you’re going down the road..
2. Pull over safely. Whether it’s an urgent phone call, checking the map, or choosing a new music stream, pull over to a safe location.
3. Turn it off. Turn off your phone when you’re driving. At the very least, silence it.
4. Be aware in bad weather. Whether its fog, rain, or wind, driving requires all of your attention and the margin of error narrows.
5. No drowsy driving. Be aware of how tired you may be behind the wheel. Fatigue can increase reaction times.

Businesses: have a policy. Consider including language in your employee policies that a vehicle operator will not use mobile devices while the vehicle is in motion. Ask your employees who travel on business to include a message in their voicemail greeting letting callers know they’re unavailable because they’re driving.

For more information

For more information about distracted driving, visit Distraction.gov. For additional driving safety tips, visit the Front Porch blog ongrinnellmutual.com.

The information included in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and its employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with any training, materials, suggestions or information provided. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm compliance with any applicable local, state or federal regulations. Information obtained from or via Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company should not be used as the basis for legal advice or other advice, but should be confirmed with alternative sources.