April: A Time to Prioritize Safe Driving Habits
As your insurance agent, we feel that it’s our obligation to remind you that safe driving is more than just a matter of convenience—it’s a matter of life and death. Distracted Driving Awareness Month, observed throughout April, serves as a crucial reminder for all of us to keep our eyes on the road and our hands on the wheel.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving occurs when our attention shifts away from the task at hand—driving. Common distractions include:
- Mobile Phones: Texting, calling, or browsing while driving.
- Eating and Drinking: Juggling a burger or sipping coffee behind the wheel.
- Multitasking: Trying to apply makeup or adjust the radio while navigating traffic.
The Alarming Reality
Consider these sobering statistics:
- Fatalities: Over 2,800 lives are lost each year due to distracted driving accidents.
- Injuries: Approximately 400,000 people suffer injuries in these preventable crashes.
- Insurance Impact: Did you know that distracted driving claims affect premiums and client well-being? It’s about more than the $$, but distracted driving accidents are certainly one factor causing unprecedented increases for our policy premiums.
What Can You Do?
Use this month to check your driving habits & have the hard conversations with your family & friends. Share tips on minimizing distractions and emphasize the importance of staying focused. But don’t let your conversation stop there—consistently check-in with yourself, your family members, and especially your young drivers. Distracted driving deserves a constant conversation.
Conclusion
Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a call to action. Let’s work together to reduce accidents, protect lives, and create safer roads. Remember: One text can wait. One call can wait. A life cannot.
Sources:
- The Importance of Distracted Driving Awareness Month – Agency Forward® – Nationwide
- Distracted Driving Awareness Month | Selective Insurance
- Distracted Driving Awareness Month │ Gerety Insurance
- Share These Distracted Driving Facts With Your Policyholders During …
- April’s National Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign