Broward College Expert Offers Tips to Avoid Distracted Driving

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (March 23, 2015) – Driving is a routine part of people’s lives and has the potential to be very dangerous. Broward College is observing Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April by raising awareness of the dangers of distracted driving to help prevent bad habits that can cause accidents on the roadways. ​ 

“Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving, endangering driver, passenger and pedestrian safety,” said Wayne Boulier, Broward College instructor of vehicle operations and first aid. “Even taking your eyes away from the road for three seconds can be dangerous – at 70 mph, you cover a little more than the length of a football field.”

There are three forms of distracted driving, including visual or taking your eyes off of the road; manual or removing your hands from the wheel; and cognitive or taking your mind off of driving. These include eating or drinking, adjusting the radio, reading, looking at maps, grooming and texting or using a cell phone.  

Cell phone usage combines all through forms of distracted driving. Driving while using the cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity by 37 percent. To avoid temptation, place the cell phone somewhere out of reach, such as the glove box. If you are worried about an emergency, set your phone to deliver a unique ringtone for urgent calls, so that you will know to pullover, park and safely take the call. 

Do not multi-task while in the car. Although people live busy lives, being busy should not be an excuse for distracted driving. Make time to eat breakfast before leaving the house in the morning, set the GPS to your destination before departing your location and place any toll passes or money in reach, so there is no need to search for anything important while driving. 

 For more information, contact Angela Nicoletti at 954-201-7939 or anicolet@broward.edu.

-BC-