Distracted driving isn’t just dangerous; it’s potentially deadly. That’s why truck drivers need to do their part to stay safe. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are some tips to reduce distracted driving while you’re on a route. 

Put the Phone Away 

Smartphones are inherently distracting. The sounds of incoming calls, texts, and notifications are designed to draw your attention. The same goes for flashing lights, screens brightening, and other visual cues of activity. Since that’s the case, simply having your phone around and powered on can keep you from maintaining focus on the road. 

While hands-free devices and dashboard mounts limit your need to handle your phone, it’s usually best to put the device away entirely. Even interacting with hands-free or dash-mounted devices means you aren’t necessarily paying attention to the road. Plus, by putting your smartphone away, you aren’t tempted to check notifications, write texts, or engage in any other potentially dangerous behavior. 

In the end, you can always check your phone during stops. Additionally, you can let your family members know how to reach dispatch if there’s an emergency, ensuring you they can get in touch with you if you’re actively driving. 

Avoid Eating on the Road 

When you eat while driving, you typically have to take your eyes off the road for a few seconds. Whether it’s making sure you reach inside a bag, pick up a food item correctly, or take a bite from the right spot, it’s normal to need to look. 

Since looking means your eyes are off the road, it’s best to eat only when stopped. That’s true even if you’re eating finger foods. Along with capturing your attention, finger foods may make your hands slick, which could be a problem if you need to grab the wheel and maneuver quickly. 

Technically, that’s also wise for drinking. However, the latter may be impractical if you want to ensure you stay hydrated. As a result, you’ll want to make that as easy as possible, such as by placing beverages closer to the dashboard to limit how long you need to look away. 

Wait Until You Stop for Grooming 

Combing your hair, brushing your teeth, flossing, using face wipes, and similar activities are all distractions you should avoid while driving. Along with potentially drawing your eye away – particularly if you need to use a mirror along the way – some of those activities require two hands. Plus, spills relating to personal hygiene routines could also cause you to look away from the road. 

Like most activities, it’s best to wait until you’ve stopped to engage in grooming practices. That allows you to handle those tasks when you can fully focus on them instead of tackling them during moments that may be unsafe. 

Don’t Smoke, Dip, or Vape While Driving 

Even if you’re in a cab that allows you to use nicotine products, smoking, dipping, or vaping while on the road is dangerous. Lighting a cigarette and dealing with ashes require you to take your eyes off the road in many cases. The same goes for putting a cigarette out. 

With dip, you typically have to grab the dip can initially and may need to handle a spit cup along the way. With vapes, you at least have to pick up the device, which can be a distraction for a moment. 

If you use nicotine, wait until you stop. That way, you aren’t creating unnecessarily hazardous driving conditions for yourself. 

If you’d like to learn more about how to avoid distracted driving, the staff at PTS® wants to hear from you. Contact us today.