According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 3,100 people died in car accidents caused by distracted driving in 2019. What can we do to prevent so many injuries and deaths each year?

What is distracted driving?

Anything that can cause a driver to take his or her mind off the road is a distraction. This includes activities that cause our eyes – and our minds – to wander.

Texting while driving is often cited as a major hazard on the road, and with good reason. Texting while driving requires drivers to take their eyes off the road to text. It also means that the driver does not have both hands on the wheel. This contributes to the safety issues, including the driver’s reduced ability to:

• Detect road signs.
• Stay in a designated lane.
• Maintain a safe speed.
• React quickly to potential problems.
• See pedestrians.

But texting is not the only distraction for drivers. Recent studies have shown the same safety concerns happen while the driver is talking, whether it is on a cellphone, hands-free phone or to a passenger in the car.

Daydreaming is also a major concern. Recent studies have found that many people let their minds wander while driving, especially on the commute home. During experiments that created simulations of typical daily commutes, drivers allowed their minds to wander up to 70 percent of the commute time!

What can drivers do to be less distracted?

Clearly, drivers can take steps to reduce the amount of distractions they experience while driving. Using voice-activated systems to send texts is better than doing it hands-on, but not ideal. Using hands-free systems to talk while driving eliminates actually handling a phone. The best step to take is to reserve talking and texting for when the car is not moving, ideally when you’re parked.