Paul Dreher Director of Personal Insurance View Bio

Memorial Day Means Dangerous Distracted Driving

This holiday weekend, make sure to pay attention to the road, maybe even more than you usually do while driving. Memorial Day weekend means more people are on the road. In fact, numbers of drivers may reach 34.6 million over the holiday (Michelin for National Tire Safety Week survey).

With more drivers on the road feeling more confident in the summer months, it all adds up to more car accidents happening during the warm weather.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that most (60%) accidents occur due to distracted driving while at the wheel. In order to stay ahead of the trend and increase your safety on the road, here are some easy tips to help with distracted driving:

  1. Wear Your Seat Belt – Every passenger in your car should be buckled up. In the event of an accident, this can help cut down on injuries and keep everyone safe
  2. Extra Travel Time – If you are driving in unfamiliar territory, you should allow extra time so you can stop and look at a map, program electronic navigation, and go around any detours
  3. Avoid Distracted Driving Altogether – Texting, eating, adjusting the radio channel; all of these are distractions and should be avoided if you are behind the wheel. Always try to go hands free or have a passenger help you with any task you need to do while in the car
  4. Road Side Assistance – Always have a plan in place for roadside assistance. Doing this gives you ease of mind and helps you in the case of an accident
  5. Update Your Proof of Insurance – Having proof of up-to-date insurance coverage is very important in the event you do get into an accident or get stuck in a traffic stop. Also, different states will have different traffic laws, so be aware of those as well

Stay safe and enjoy the holiday weekend!

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