For many people, their cell phones are never far from them, even while they are driving. Unfortunately, some drivers use their phones to text a friend or otherwise engage in distracted driving behavior while driving. This distracted driving behavior sometimes causes accidents, either with other drivers or even with pedestrians, which can result in serious injury or death. Currently, New York state lawmakers are looking at a law that would allow police to scan the cell phones of people who were involved in car crashes to see if cell phone distractions contributed to the crash. Whether the law is enacted or not, there are several things you can do to reduce your chances of being involved in a distracted driving accident. For Drivers Whenever you are driving, your focus should be on driving, not on other things. …show more content…
• Whenever possible, avoid eating or drinking anything, especially messy foods, while driving. If are eating and you drop any food, do not attempt to retrieve it while driving. • Do not multi-task while driving. This means avoiding things such as brushing your hair, putting on make-up, or reading a book while driving. It also includes adjusting your mirror, or doing any other activity that could take your mind or your eyes off the road. • Avoid rubbernecking. Looking to see what happened at an accident scene or turning partway around to see if you know the person pulled over by the police could lead to you crashing into another vehicle. • Get enough sleep, especially when driving long distances. If you are sleepy, your mind may wander more, or you may struggle to concentrate on the road. In extreme cases, if you do not get enough sleep, you may fall asleep while driving. • Try to avoid driving when you are overly emotional. Strong emotions can cause a driving