Tips To Avoid Distracted Driving

Be honest with yourself.

It's easy for most of us to overestimate how much we can accomplish in a given time. If you're prone to taking bites out of your sandwich while changing lanes, the first step toward becoming a more focused driver is, to be honest with yourself about your tendencies. Maybe you don't just check your phone while stopping at red lights—maybe you also use it while driving. Maybe you watch videos on YouTube or take selfies as part of Snapchat's Face Swap function. No matter what behavior keeps you from being present on the road, it's important to examine yourself critically and without judgment.

You may find that even once you've become aware of your distractions, bad habits are difficult to break. That's where technology comes in handy: try setting up an automatic reminder that prompts you to check your rear-view mirror before turning around every time. There are plenty of apps available online (just pop #distractionfree into Google) that do exactly this; all it takes is downloading one and setting parameters for how often the app should ping your phone or device!

Use the hands-free or voice control features on your phone.

Use the hands-free or voice control features on your phone. Regardless of which device you are using, most phones have a way to operate them without manually touching the screen or keyboard. In order to avoid taking your eyes off the road while driving, use these features in conjunction with voice commands instead.

Avoid earpiece use while driving. If you’re going to be on a call while driving, do not use an earpiece as it may cause you to be distracted by movements in your peripheral vision and make it difficult for you to hear things such as sirens and other warning sounds.

Limit phone use when driving is not necessary.

Do not text, use your phone or engage in any other distracted driving activities when you are not driving. Many people incorrectly assume that it is only dangerous to use a cell phone while they are behind the wheel. In fact, using a cell phone while stopped at a red light or waiting for a bus can also be dangerous.

Get into the mindset of being focused on your driving task before you get into your car and begin to drive. If you are not completely focused on the road ahead of you, then you should not be driving.

Avoid using your phone once you have started to drive, even if something urgent comes up and it seems like an emergency situation. If possible, find somebody else to help out with the emergency situation while you focus on getting yourself home safely.

Set a reminder to check your rearview mirror before you turn around.

Setting a reminder to check your rearview mirror before you turn around will help keep you from getting into an accident. Remember to check your mirror before looking behind you, since it can be difficult to remember to look when turning and it’s easy to get distracted.

Take a break when it's appropriate.

Take a break when necessary. If you are experiencing any level of stress or anxiety, it is best to stop driving and take a break. This can be as simple as closing your eyes for a minute and taking several deep breaths. It will help calm you down and help you focus on the task at hand—driving!

If you need to use the restroom, pull into a gas station or rest area and take care of business before you get back on the road. This applies to both hunger and thirst as well! Having to “go” while driving is dangerous because it takes your mind off of driving. Your brain should be 100% focused on what's in front of you, not what's behind you!

Putting your phone down when driving isn't necessary.

Putting your phone down when driving isn't necessary. If you don't need to use your phone while you're in the car, put it away. Don't take it out to check it at a traffic light, don't flip through your Instagram feed because you're waiting for someone, and don't even answer a text message that's not urgent. Essentially, don't use your phone in any way when you're behind the wheel unless you need to do so for safety reasons—and even then, make sure what you're doing is really necessary!

Avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as games, movies, and work-related emails.

It’s important to avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as games, movies, and work-related emails. Busy drivers sometimes feel that it is important to stay on top of things even when they are driving. It might seem like a good idea to text or return an email while in traffic but this can be dangerous. If you must check your email, wait until you get somewhere safe and pull over.

Always keep your eyes on the road while driving!

Be aware that every time you answer an incoming call or text message while driving, you're changing lanes and leaving yourself a smaller margin of error in case something unexpected happens.

In a car, every time you answer an incoming call or text message, you're changing lanes and leaving yourself a smaller margin of error in case something unexpected happens. You may not realize it at the moment, but your actions are affecting other drivers on the road, as well as passengers in your vehicle. When you take your eyes off the road for even a few seconds, you increase the risk of being involved in an accident. If something unexpected does happen and makes it necessary for you to react quickly, having less time to react can be extremely dangerous and put all parties at risk.

Distracted driving can happen to anyone, so follow these basic tips to make sure nothing happens to you for being distracted behind the wheel

Everyone knows that distracted driving is dangerous, and it can happen to anyone. Follow these basic tips to make sure nothing happens to you from being distracted behind the wheel:

Don't text while driving.

Limit eating, drinking, and smoking in the car.

Don't put on makeup or comb your hair while driving.

No adjusting music or programming navigation systems. If using a GPS, enter your destination before starting the car. In general, do not fiddle with any of your radio or climate controls while driving.

Do not drive if you are tired or sick. Be sure to get enough sleep before a long trip, and listen to your body's symptoms if you're ill and thinking about getting behind the wheel anyway. Driving when you're physically compromised will only increase the likelihood of having an accident due to mental distraction caused by physical discomfort. You may also want to avoid angry situations that could lead to road rage incidents where safety is compromised.* If a distraction occurs (e.g., spilled coffee), change lanes safely once clear so that no one rear-ends you as well as keep your eyes on the vehicle ahead of you.

Blind Intersection Drivers Test

When you approach a blind intersection, it means you can't see any traffic.

A blind intersection is where you approach a corner and cannot see if there is any traffic coming from the left or right.

When driving at night, approaching a blind intersection can be more difficult, as headlights from other vehicles may be shining directly in your eyes. But you still must follow the same rules as you would during the day.

As you begin to slow down before reaching a blind intersection, make sure that no one else is trying to enter it from either side. If it is safe for you to turn right or go straight ahead, do so carefully and watch out for any pedestrians that might be crossing the road.

Make sure there is no traffic.

Check for oncoming traffic and make sure there is no one coming through the intersection from the left. The last thing you want is to have a vehicle come zooming past you in the middle of your turn.

Check for pedestrians. This includes people walking, running, or skating across the street to your right or left. They might not stop if they see you perform a U-turn and could potentially get hit by your car.

Check for bicycles. Bicycles are another difficult-to-spot threat at intersections, especially if they are riding fast and/or weaving in between cars on the road. Make sure that you look out for anyone biking either across or down the street as well before making your turn.

Check for vehicles turning into the intersection from any direction (including behind you). You don't want these cars to end up blocking your path during their turns when you're trying to drive off after completing yours; it's never fun when two cars collide while trying to perform turns at an intersection!

Always slow down and be prepared to stop

If you’re driving in a state or province with a blind intersection, you should always be prepared to stop. If you do not have to stop at a blind intersection, it is recommended that you still slow down significantly, as the most common reason for failure at a blind intersection is not stopping when necessary.

Stop completely at the stop sign.

When you see a stop sign, make sure you come to a complete stop before the stop line. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk or intersection.

While stopped, you must yield the right of way to anyone else in the intersection or who is within 30 meters (100 feet) of the intersection and is approaching it. Make sure you can clearly see in both directions before proceeding through the intersection.

If there is no traffic, proceed through the intersection.

If you are sure there is no traffic coming, you can proceed through the intersection. If you are not sure, do not proceed until it is clear. If there is traffic coming, you must wait. If there is a stop sign or stop line at your intersection and you have to wait for other traffic to clear before proceeding, come to a complete stop.

Do not attempt to turn into a blind intersection if there is any chance of other vehicles being present.

Before you enter the intersection, stop at the stop sign. Be sure that you cannot see any approaching traffic from either direction. In this situation, you should wait for all oncoming traffic to clear. Do not proceed until there is no more traffic coming from the right or left. Remember: a blind intersection is one where oncoming vehicles are not visible to each other until they enter the intersection.

Badintersections.com has a database of dangerous blind intersections.  Please add new blind intersections to our map. 

Why I Stopped Biking on the Road and Switched to Peloton

If you're a biker like me, you probably know how hard it is to navigate the roads when so many people are driving and texting. I've been riding my bicycle on the road for years, but one day I realized that someone who's texting while driving is extremely unlikely to see me. When they look up from their phone, they're not going to be looking at the right place or in time to avoid me. If I'm lucky, I might catch a glimpse of them about to hit me when it's too late for me to dodge out of the way or move over.

I found a safer biking solution recently that still gives me the edge of competition.  Peloton's leaderboard is the killer app and will get you hooked on taking classes with people all over the World.  You can take classes on-demand with a small group of people or you can do live classes with thousands of people at the same time.  

Peleton goes into your home easily and prices have come down a lot and so it's much more affordable to get started.  I bought my Peleton bike off Craigslist for $500 as new bikes have recently come down in price to $1,500.  The monthly cost of the service is only $39 per month to do classes. 

Peloton goes into your home and you simply ride it in the comfort of your own home. It is far safer since you do not have to worry about cars hitting you or getting lost while riding on a trail. There is no bad weather involved, no need for a bike rack or lock, and absolutely no maintenance needed. You also don't need to drive anywhere to get to a bike trail so that saves gas as well.

Like many people, I started biking at a young age. Biking is still a useful mode of transportation for me on designated biking trails only. In recent years, I have been doing a lot more indoor biking with Peloton as well as with other instructors at my gym. With Peloton bikes, you are able to take classes with studio instructors from anywhere in the world, which is great for when there's bad weather outside or if you're just not feeling like riding outdoors.

Peloton is a great way to clear your mind and a great release of energy. Whether you are trying to get through a tough day at work or dealing with anxiety, it can help reduce stress.  It also helps with depression, keeps you focused, and helps with insomnia. If you have high blood pressure and diabetes, exercise can help lower these things in your body and improve heart health as well.

I love biking and the outdoors but it is not as safe as it used to be on the roads.  Road biking is dangerous because cars, motorcycles, and trucks are massive and don't always respect cyclists.  Once you have kids or a family you might realize how vulnerable you are to getting killed on a bike. 

Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are much heavier than bikes. If you get hit by one of these vehicles, the vehicle is going to keep moving, but you're probably not. However, if a bicycle hits a car, the car's momentum might remain unchanged (and if we're being honest: your bike is probably going to be crushed).

Running into a parked car is called getting "doored" in cycling jargon. It's important to know that cars and motorcycles can hardly stop on a dime if there's something in their way—that's why it's so important for cyclists to ride safely and give other road users enough room.

Worst of all, drivers can be reckless and drive distracted on their phones texting or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers are very distracted these days by multi-tasking. The average driver may be texting or talking on their phone while driving, or they could be tired and unfocused.

Aggressive driving techniques like following too closely or road raging are very common these days,  If you're asking yourself "Why can't he just swerve?" let me tell you why: because cars are big and heavy and bicycles aren't. Have you ever watched an action movie where someone is chasing another car with theirs? It's easy for them to ram into their intended target unless they swerve their car in a way that makes it almost impossible for them to keep control of it (and even then, there's no guarantee). A bicycle on its own isn't much protection against a car doing anything other than stopping or slowing down when it sees you—and if the driver doesn't see you in time, being hit by one could be fatal or result in serious injuries.

I was tired of being harassed by people who wanted me off the road.  Many drivers find bikers a nuisance and you see this attitude when they don't give you enough space when passing by.  That's the attitude I found myself up against every single time I rode my bike on an actual road, and it took its toll on me. It just takes one angry driver on the road to ruin your bike ride.  

Your safety is paramount. No matter what the weather conditions, what time of day it is, or even how innocuous the road might feel, you need to be prepared for anything that could happen. Your life could depend on it. I don't want to be just another statistic on a police report or news story if an accident were to occur that was not my fault.