One of the leading causes of death among young people is car accidents. Many car accidents are caused by distracted driving. Take a closer look at your driving behaviors during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to helping drivers understand the dangers of driving while distracted. Driving distracted takes many forms. The most common distracted driving activities are using a mobile device, eating, drinking, talking to a passenger or on the phone, showing affection toward a passenger, adjusting the stereo, using a navigation system, applying makeup, brushing your hair, and flossing. If you do any of these activities when behind the wheel, think again. These everyday activities make operating a motor vehicle incredibly unsafe and even deadly.

Driving distracted typically means you are taking at least one of your hands off the wheel , sometimes for as long as five seconds or more. Even though this doesn’t sound like a long time, doing so reduces your reaction time and increases your risk of getting into a collision. Additionally, if you are going 55 mph and you aren’t paying attention to the road ahead for as little as five seconds, this is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

If you or someone you love is a distracted driver, there are some tips to avoid this behavior. For one, you can organize everything before you start driving. This means you eat your snack, drink your water, program your navigation, and respond to any texts before you hit the road. Doing so reduces your need to drive with distractions. You can also remove any distracted-driving temptations. For example, put your phone on do not disturb or keep it in your glovebox during your commute.

At The Truck Junction, your safety is our top concern. Be sure to follow these tips when you are behind the wheel of one of our top-quality pre-owned pickup trucks. You can find our dealership at 301 US 41 Bypass S in Venice, Florida.