How to prevent distracted driving accidents

Can you imagine pouring a cup of coffee, hopping in the car and casually reading the news on your phone while a robot-driven vehicle whisks you off to work? Although we’re a decade or more away from that kind of future, it’s nice to imagine what commuting will be like when driverless cars are ready for the mainstream. One of the biggest benefits will be the elimination of distracted driving.

Until this future day arrives, we’ll continue to face the dangers of this common cause of vehicle accidents. As such, we need to do everything we can to stay safe.

Here are two tips for avoiding car accidents caused by distracted driving:

Avoid the most common causes of distraction: Put your smartphone out of reach, never eat and drive and be careful not to have too heated of discussions with your passengers. Also, no putting on makeup in the rear-view mirror and no Facebook. Finally, if you’re riding in the car with someone who won’t put his or her smartphone away, demand that the person stops using it or ask to get out of the car. It’s not worth risking your safety.

Avoid drivers who are distracted: Give other drivers lots of space because, with so many people distracted by their cellphones these days, they probably aren’t paying as close attention to the road as drivers did in the past. The more space you give people on the road, the more time you’ll have to react in a dangerous situation.

Were you hurt in a distracted driving crash due to no fault of your own? Take care to understand the legal issues that come into play with regard to your vehicle collision. The law may be on your side.