Broward College Expert Offers Tips for National Traffic Awareness Month

  • Press Releases | 30 July 2015 | 1 min read

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (July 30, 2015) – In observance of National Traffic Awareness Month, which educates drivers about the serious repercussions of distracted driving, Broward College is offering several tips for staying safe on the road.

 “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. This can include eating or drinking, adjusting the radio, reading, looking at maps, grooming and texting or using a cell phone.  

Cell phone usage combines all 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 have hectic 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. 

Teen drivers should not have young passengers in the vehicle for the first six months after they receive their license. Younger passengers, including siblings or friends, can serve as a serious distraction to inexperienced drivers. According to the National Safety Council, a single teen passenger increases a teen driver’s crash risk by 44 percent.

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

-BC-

ABOUT BROWARD COLLEGE

Serving approximately 56,000 students annually, Broward College provides residents with certificate programs, two-year university-transfer degrees, two-year career degrees, and baccalaureate degrees in selected programs. The mission of the College is to provide high-quality educational programs and services that are affordable and accessible to a diverse community of learners. For more information, visit www.broward.edu.