Monroe Police Department issued the following announcement on Mar 24.
Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Driving is a visual task and non-driving activities that draw the driver's eyes away from the roadway should always be avoided.
As of July 1, 2010, Michigan law prohibits texting while driving. For a first offense, motorists are fined $100. Subsequent offenses cost $200.
There are three main types of distraction:
Visual - taking your eyes off the road
Manual - taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive - taking your mind off the drive
Texting is the most alarming distraction because it involves all three types of distraction.
Distracting activities include:
Texting or messaging
Checking social media
Talking on the phone, even hands-free
Watching videos
Eating, drinking, or smoking
Grooming
Looking after children or pets
Chatting with passengers
Searching or reaching for an item
Looking at crashes or roadside sights
Checking a navigation system
Reading anything, including maps
Adjusting climate or music controls
Listening to loud music
How not to be distracted:
Use your phone's Do Not Disturb feature or an app to silence calls and texts.
Put your phone in the glove box or elsewhere to curb the urge to look at it.
Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking while driving.
Never attempt to read while driving, including a map.
Do not do any personal grooming or adjust your clothing while driving.
Avoid a lot of interaction with passengers.
Emotions can interfere with driving.
Do not drive when you are angry or upset.
Keep music at a reasonable level, and avoid using headphones or earbuds.
Pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle if you need to make or take a call.
Do not drive with a pet on your lap.
Ask a passenger to help navigate, change the music, or monitor your texts.
Pull over to a safe place to address situations involving children.
Do not daydream when you are behind the wheel.
Original source can be found here.
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