Distracted Driving Safety Meeting Video

0:12Distracted Driving – a safety meeting

0:14video brought to you by Weeklysafety.com.

0:17Let’s get started.

0:19When you’re behind the wheel,

0:20your only focus should be driving.

0:21Every trip requires your full attention,

0:24no matter how short or routine it seems.

0:26Distracted driving happens anytime

0:28you take your eyes off the road,

0:30your hands off the wheel, or your

0:31mind off the task of driving.

0:33Simple actions like checking a text

0:35message, looking at directions on a map,

0:37eating a snack, or even daydreaming can

0:39lead to a dangerous situation in seconds.

0:42In this safety meeting video we’ll

0:43review the hazards of distracted

0:45driving, the different types of

0:46distractions, and how to stay focused

0:48every time you’re on the road.

0:50Understanding Distractions.

0:53A distraction is anything that diverts

0:55your attention away from driving.

0:57It can be a visual distraction

0:58that takes your eyes off the road.

1:01It can be a physical distraction

1:02that causes you to remove

1:03your hands from the wheel.

1:05Or it can be a cognitive distraction

1:07that pulls your mind away from

1:08what’s happening around you.

1:10Any one of these is dangerous, but

1:12many distractions combine all three,

1:15creating an even greater risk.

1:17Personal grooming, reaching for items,

1:19opening food or drinks, or programming

1:21your GPS while driving all take

1:23your focus away from the road ahead.

1:26Even a quick glance away can

1:27lead to a serious collision.

1:29The Myth of Multitasking.

1:31Many people believe they can safely

1:33multi-task while driving, but the

1:35truth is, the brain cannot fully

1:37focus on two complex tasks at once.

1:40Instead, it rapidly switches between them,

1:43which slows reaction times and creates

1:45what is known as inattention blindness.

1:48Inattention blindness happens

1:49when a driver fails to see a

1:51visible hazard simply because

1:53their attention is somewhere else.

1:55You may think you’re looking

1:56straight ahead, but if your mind

1:58is thinking about a conversation, a

2:00work task, or even a personal worry,

2:03you’re not truly seeing the road.

2:05This delay in perception

2:06can easily cause a crash.

2:09Common Distractions.

2:11There are countless ways

2:12drivers can become distracted.

2:14Making or taking phone calls, sending

2:17or reading text messages or emails,

2:19scanning social media, or browsing the

2:21internet are among the most common.

2:23Even hands-free phone use is

2:25not risk-free, because your

2:26mind is still divided between

2:28the road and the conversation.

2:30Other frequent distractions include

2:32eating, drinking, smoking, daydreaming,

2:34adjusting mirrors, or reaching

2:36for something that has fallen.

2:38Cell Phone Use.

2:40It’s important to understand that using

2:42a cell phone while driving is dangerous.

2:44Using hands-free features still

2:47increases your risk of an accident.

2:49Studies show drivers on the phone can

2:51miss up to half of what’s happening around

2:53them because their attention is divided.

2:56Hands-free does not mean safe.

2:58You should not be using your

2:59cell phone for any reason

3:01while the vehicle is moving.

3:02Even checking your cell phone at

3:04a stoplight can lead to trouble

3:05because the distraction doesn’t

3:07end when the light turns green.

3:09Something you saw or read may continue

3:11to pull your mind away from the road,

3:14increasing the chance of a rear-end

3:15collision or missing a sudden stop ahead.

3:18The safest approach is to only

3:20use your phone when you’ve reached

3:21your destination, and your vehicle

3:23is parked in a safe location.

3:26External Distractions.

3:28Not all distractions

3:29come from inside the car.

3:31Accident scenes, emergency

3:33vehicles, or construction work

3:34zones can pull your focus away from

3:36what’s directly in front of you.

3:38When approaching these areas, slow

3:40down, pay close attention, and avoid

3:42staring at the scene for too long.

3:44Never look back while passing an accident.

3:47Keep your hands on the wheel and

3:48your eyes on the traffic ahead.

3:51Work Zones.

3:52If you drive through roadside construction

3:54zones, distractions can multiply.

3:57Workers, equipment, materials,

3:59and flaggers can all create

4:01unpredictable hazards.

4:02Reduce your speed, scan your

4:04surroundings carefully, and keep

4:05both hands firmly on the wheel.

4:08Stay fully aware of everything

4:09happening around you.

4:11Staying Focused.

4:13Before you start any trip,

4:14take steps to set yourself up

4:16for a distraction-free drive.

4:18Finish your phone calls, texts,

4:19and emails ahead of time.

4:21If you’re eating or drinking, do

4:22it before you get behind the wheel.

4:25Secure any drinks you have in

4:26the car with tight-fitting lids.

4:28Program your GPS, set your

4:30music playlist, or queue an

4:31audiobook before you start moving.

4:33Consider enabling a “Do Not Disturb”

4:35feature on your cell phone so you won’t be

4:37tempted by notifications. Place your phone

4:40somewhere out of reach, like a glove box

4:42or bag, so you’re not tempted to grab it.

4:45For longer drives, let your coworkers,

4:47friends, and family know you’ll be

4:49unavailable until you can safely stop.

4:52Mental Readiness.

4:54Your focus can also be

4:55affected by how you’re feeling.

4:57Avoid driving when you’re upset, overly

4:59tired, or sick, as these conditions

5:01can impair your concentration.

5:03If you’re struggling to stay alert,

5:04it’s safer to pull over and rest or wait

5:07until you’re in a better state to drive.

5:10Let’s Review.

5:11Distracted driving is preventable.

5:13It only takes a split second

5:15of inattention to cause

5:16a life-changing accident.

5:18Keep your eyes on the road,

5:19your hands on the wheel, and

5:20your mind focused on driving.

5:23Avoid multitasking, silence your phone,

5:25and prepare before you start your trip,

5:27so nothing pulls your attention away.

5:29Remember, no text message, snack,

5:31or photo is worth risking your

5:33safety or someone else’s life.

5:35Thank you for taking the time to join

5:37this safety meeting on distracted driving.

5:39Stay focused, stay alert,

5:41and stay safe on every drive.