Each driver ‒ and each passenger ‒ expects to achieve their vacation spot safely.
However selecting up your telephone to learn or reply a textual content when you’re behind the wheel places everybody’s security in jeopardy.
At any level through the day, it’s estimated that round 660,000 drivers are on their telephones. Within the U.S., texting and driving causes 1 / 4 of all automotive accidents. And teenage drivers are 4 occasions extra seemingly than adults to have accidents or near-accidents once they’re on their telephones.
Need one other eye-opener? You’re six occasions extra more likely to trigger an accident once you’re texting behind the wheel than a drunk driver!
The silver lining? It is a behavior that may simply be damaged.
Listed below are eight ideas that may assist you to ‒ or a driver you care about ‒ overcome the temptation as soon as for all, whereas doing all your half to maintain the roadways quite a bit safer.
8 Tricks to Cease Texting and Driving
- Keep in mind: Silence is golden. Earlier than you begin the ignition, put your telephone on silent mode and ensure it’s not on vibrate. An alternative choice: flip your telephone off altogether. Each choices will get rid of the temptation to test your display each time it rings, pings or buzzes.
- Grasp up your “don’t disturb” signal. Effectively, figuratively anyway. On most smartphones, you may have the choice to activate some type of a don’t disturb mode when you’re driving. Do your analysis to learn the way to allow this in your telephone. There are even apps you possibly can obtain to dam texts when you’re behind the wheel, together with ones particularly geared towards teen drivers.
- Make it out of sight, out of thoughts. Reasonably than having your telephone in your cup holder, your middle console, or (cringe) your hand, put it in a spot the place you possibly can’t see or attain it.
- Ask for assist. When you have a passenger or two with you, ask them to keep watch over your telephone and deal with any calls or messages you obtain. Should you’re a passenger somewhat than a driver, volunteer for the job ‒ and name out the motive force in the event that they’re being unsafe.
- Put it in park. If it’s completely important to reply to a message, discover a place to securely pull over, then park and reply.
- Mannequin secure habits. Discuss to your youngsters concerning the risks of texting and driving, clarify the methods they will keep away from it, then put your cash the place your mouth is.
- Set and implement guidelines. When you have a teen driver in the home, make your expectations clear about how they’re allowed to make use of their telephone within the car and be very particular about what is going to occur in the event that they break these guidelines. Should you catch your teen doing it, implement these penalties ‒ each time.
- Enroll in our new YourTurn® program.1 Want an additional incentive? Our driving security app, YourTurn, is obtainable to ERIE clients. The app measures standards equivalent to dashing, onerous braking and telephone utilization – and you’ll earn rewards primarily based in your driving rating (as much as $5 or $10 each two weeks)2. This helps to make drivers of all ages extra conscious of their driving behaviors and identifies areas for enchancment.
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It’s Your Flip to Make Secure Driving a Precedence
ERIE’s YourTurn program is a brand new approach we’re searching for you and serving to you keep secure on the street. Contact your native ERIE agent at this time to study extra or to join the YourTurn program.3 Should you select to affix this system, you’ll obtain a YourTurn welcome textual content and directions for getting began.
YourTurn is presently not accessible within the District of Columbia, Kentucky, North Carolina and New York.
1YourTurn not accessible in all states. As of 03/2021, program accessible to policyholders in IL, IN, MD, OH, PA, TN, VA, WI, and WV.
2Ages 16-23 can earn rewards as much as $10 each two weeks, ages 24+ can earn rewards as much as $5 each two weeks. Rewards are primarily based on the taking part driver’s rating through the scoring interval whereas driving 50 tracked miles. Indiana individuals can earn as much as $5 each two weeks. Rewards are distributed by means of the YourTurn app through digital reward playing cards.
3The YourTurn app requires individuals to be a licensed driver on the ERIE auto coverage and have a legitimate electronic mail handle, smartphone quantity and knowledge plan to obtain and activate the YourTurn app. Customers should conform to the Phrases and Situations of the YourTurn® app.