\Here at your BMW dealers serving Glenview, Fields BMW Northfield, our team knows that with summer upon us, most of our drivers will be heading out on adventures and roadtrips with their family and friends! Our team also knows that everyone wants to get as much enjoyment as possible out of these summer months before the winter sets in again, so there is lots of rushing back and forth. We want to remind you to slow down every once in awhile, take a step back, and make sure that you’re focusing on the task at hand when you’re behind the wheel: Driving. Statistics show that distracted driving factors into nearly 80 percent of all automobile accidents. That means that four out of every five accidents stems one or both drivers not giving driving their full attention to the road.
There are multiple types of distracted driving including: visual distraction, or those that take your eyes off of the road; cognitive, distractions that take your mind off the task at hand: and manual, which are distractions that involve taking your hands off the wheel. Some distractions are a combination of all three, such as texting and driving. Other bad habits to try to avoid are:
Eating and Drinking: While we understand that grabbing a sandwich in the car is a good way to save some time, handling food or hot beverages while driving distracts you both visually and manually, so try to avoid going through the drive-thru when you’re hitting the road, plan some time to stop for a bite to eat.
Grooming: We know that when you’re running late, it’s easy to just say to yourself that you can finish getting ready in the car, but take the extra couple of minutes to finish at home, and cut out the distraction.
Fatigue: Driving while tired or drowsy results in four- to six-times higher near-crash/crash risk than those who are rested. If you know you’re going to be taking a long trip, plan to make pit stops along the way to stretch out your legs and get the blood moving. It’ll be good on passengers and driver alike.
Using Your Cell Phone: Cell phone usage remains one of the most dangerous distractions drivers face. Using your phone is a visual, manual, and cognitive distraction that increases the risk of a crash by three times the normal amount. So put the phone away until you get where you’re going or pull over if you have to use it.
If you keep all these thoughts in mind, you can keep your mind and eyes on the road and help keep both you and your passengers safer! If you have any questions, head on down to Fields BMW Northfield to speak to a member of our team, check out our new BMW inventory, and get set up on a test drive today!