Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Despite all of the incredible advantages modern technology offers, it also brings with it a significant amount of dangers, disadvantages, and drawbacks. Increased reliance on smart phones, mobile devices, and other technology has led to more distracted drivers, which in turn have led to more dangerous roadways. The harsh consequences are beginning to take their toll.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Though the month is nearly over, there is always time to increase awareness of this leading cause of motor vehicle accidents. Driving distractions come in a wide variety of different forms (including some that may seem rather harmless at first glance). Each of the following serves as a real-life example of a driving distraction:

• Texting
• Using Snapchat
• Watching a video
• Eating and drinking
• Checking social media
• Adjusting the music (CD players, mp3 players, radios, etc)
• Inputting your destination into a navigation system
• Grooming (applying makeup, shaving, cleaning teeth, etc)
• Reading (including reading maps)
• Corralling pets
• Disciplining children
• Talking on the phone (including hands-free devices)
• Sending or checking email

Most drivers easily justify doing one (or several) of these things while driving, saying that whatever they must do is "extremely time-sensitive" or that it "will only take a second." However, the unfortunate reality is that sometimes that's literally all it takes to get in an accident - a second.

Distracted Driving Statistics

Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of accidents and is often linked with fatal accidents at the Lake of the Ozarks and around the rest of the country. These eye-opening statistics often a realistic look at the dangers of distracted driving (Source: Distraction.gov):

• At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving.
• Drivers in their 20s are 23% of drivers in all fatal crashes, but are 27% of the distracted drivers and 38% of the distracted drivers who were using cell phones in fatal crashes.
• 10% of all drivers ages 15-19 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the crashes.
• The average distracted driver's eyes are off the road for 5 seconds at a time. When traveling at 55 mph, that's enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded.
• More than half (53%) of all adult cellphone owners have been on the giving or receiving end of a distracted walking encounter.
• In 2014, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.

Stay Safe On The Roads!

For the sake of everyone on the roads, Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC strongly encourages you, your friends, and your family to say no to distractions while driving. We can provide you with safe new cars in Camdenton MO and the maintenance you need to keep them functioning safely, but it's up to you to drive them responsibly. Stay safe, everyone!

Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMC
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!

513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO  65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service:  573.317.4195

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