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Can You Prevent the Dangers of Distracted Driving?
You're driving your friends to the movie, and everyone's excited and laughing. Or you're hungry and thirsty while driving from school to an event. Or, you hear a new message "ping" on your phone. How will you deal with these distractions? What choices can you make to arrive safely? Try it now!
Instructions
Try to arrive safely at the end of the road! Along the way, choose an option for how you will handle each distraction. You won't be allowed to move forward until you choose the safest option. Good luck!
I hear my phone "ping" with a new message!
What should I do??
My friends in the car are laughing, asking questions, and telling me to turn and look
What should I do??
I am hungry and thirsty, and get food/drink at a drive-thru restaurant
What should I do??
Congratulations, You Made It!
Good work!
👍 You've safely reached your destination, and proven that you know how to Drive Smart!
⚠️ What's dangerous here?
You're distracted 3 ways! Eyes, Hands, AND Mind are off the road!
Why is this dangerous?
Research has shown:
1. It takes 5 seconds to write the average text while driving
2. At 55 mph you could drive the length of a football field in 5 seconds
3. Teen's crash risk was 11 times greater with eyes off the road 3 seconds
Use the SMART tips to avoid this distraction!
- turn the phone or volume off
- place the phone where you can't see it (bag, glove box, console, etc)
- tell friends and family that you don't look at your phone while driving
- ask friends and family to avoid texting you when you might be driving
Remember that it is illegal for drivers of all ages to text while driving in many states. And, teens with a Level 1 or Level 2 license aren't allowed to use a phone at all while driving.
What are you doing to be safer than reading/answering your message while driving?
By waiting... eyes, hands, and MOST of focus are on the road while driving!!
What's still dangerous here? The repeated pinging of the phone can take your focus off the road.
Why is this still dangerous?
1. The pinging may tempt you to look at the phone…taking eyes off the road only 3 seconds increases teens' crash risk 11 times!
2. The pinging may take some of your focus off the road…that makes it harder to notice hazards and react to them.
Possible outcome: You may fail to see and react to unsafe conditions.
What are some SMART ways to avoid this distraction? Use the SMART tips to avoid this distraction!
- turn the phone or volume off
- place the phone where you can't see it (bag, glove box, console, etc)
- tell friends and family that you don't look at your phone while driving
- ask friends and family to avoid texting you when you might be driving
Remember that it is illegal for drivers of all ages to text while driving in many states. And, teens with a Level 1 or Level 2 license aren't allowed to use a phone at all while driving.
You turn the phone (or notifications) off and place the phone in a bag before starting the car. At the end of the drive you pull into the driveway at home, stop your vehicle, and then pick up the phone, read the message, and start typing a response.
👍 Why is this the BEST way to handle the situation?
You kept eyes, hands, AND focus on the road!!!
Possible outcome: You've arrived safely!
What are some additional SMART ways to avoid this distraction?
Use the SMART tips!
- tell friends and family that you don't look at your phone while driving
- ask friends and family to avoid texting you when you might be driving
Remember that it is illegal for drivers of all ages to text while driving in many states. And, teens with a Level 1 or Level 2 license aren't allowed to use a phone at all while driving.
Keep Driving 
👍 What's dangerous here? Your eyes are off the road when you turn to look at the passengers. And, your focus is off the road.
Why is this dangerous?
Research has shown:
1. When teens have teen passengers they drive closer to other cars
2. When teens have teen passengers they drive 15 mph faster
3. It's hard for teen drivers to react in time to avoid crashing when they're close to other cars and driving fast
4. Teens' crash risk increases with each teen passenger added
Possible outcome:
You may not notice unsafe conditions or be ready for actions of other drivers.
What are some SMART ways to avoid this distraction?
Use the SMART tips!
* create a calm environment
* before starting the car, ask passengers to help you by being as quiet as possible
* return the favor when you are a passenger
Remember that it is illegal for teen drivers with a Level 2 license to have more than 1 passenger under age 21 if no adults are present.
What are you doing to be safer than turning and speaking with passengers? Your eyes are on the road and you're trying to focus on the road!
What's still dangerous here? The passengers are still talking loudly and more of your focus is off the road (on them) than if you were alone.
Why is this dangerous?
Research has shown:
* Teen drivers were 6 times more likely to have a serious incident with loud passengers in the vehicle
Possible outcome: You may fail to see and react to unsafe conditions.
What are some SMART ways to avoid this distraction?
Use the SMART tips!
* create a calm environment
* before starting the car, ask passengers to help you by being as quiet as possible
* return the favor when you are a passenger
Remember that it is illegal for teen drivers with a Level 2 license to have more than 1 passenger under age 21 if no adults are present.
Your passengers are talking loudly. You say you're having trouble concentrating and ask if they can wait to talk until you stop driving.
Why is this the BEST way to handle the situation?
You kept eyes, hands, AND focus on the road!!!
Possible outcome: You've arrived safely!
What are some SMART ways to avoid this distraction?
* create a calm environment
* before starting the car, ask passengers to help you by being as quiet as possible
* return the favor when you are a passenger
Remember that it is illegal for teen drivers with a Level 2 license to have more than 1 passenger under age 21 if no adults are present.
Keep Driving!
⚠️ What's dangerous here? You take your eyes off the road each time you look at the food. You take hands and focus off the road when your eating and drinking.
Why is this dangerous?
A phone isn't involved…but this is still a distraction! Research has shown:
* Teens looking for objects in the vehicle took eyes off the road the same amount of time as using a phone (3.3 seconds)
* Teens' crash risk was 6 times greater when doing something like this while driving and taking their eyes off the road for 3 seconds
Possible outcome: You may miss the chance to avoid a crash if something unexpected occurs.
What are some SMART ways to avoid this distraction?
Use the SMART tips!
**plan ahead – eat a snack before getting in the car and avoid the drive-thru trip
What are you doing to be safer than eating/drinking quickly while driving? By waiting, your eyes and hands are on the road while driving.
What's still dangerous here? When the car starts moving again your hand is off the wheel. And, your focus is off the road when you're wiping up and hoping that your burger doesn't fall off the passenger seat.
Why is this still dangerous?
Research has shown:
* Even when keeping eyes on the road, it's harder for drivers to notice and detect hazards when they are doing other tasks while driving
Possible outcome: Your lack of focus prevents you from avoiding a crash.
What are some SMART ways to avoid this distraction?
Use the SMART tips!
* plan ahead – eat a snack before getting in the car and avoid the drive-thru trip
👍 Why is this the BEST way to handle the situation? By waiting until the vehicle is stopped to eat you keep your eyes, hands and MOST of your focus on the road.
Possible outcome: You've arrived safely!
What are some SMART ways to avoid this distraction?
Use the SMART tips!
* plan ahead – eat a snack before getting in the car and avoid the drive-thru trip