Especially for adults in their 30s and beyond who have been driving since they were 16.
Youre definitely not the only one.
But its not an excuse to recklessly abandon the major tenets of road safety.
Abbey Lossing
Minimize any potential distractions.
Whats worse, is theres some positive reinforcement happening.
To help minimize distractions, put your phone in driving mode.
Or just put your phone away, Poland says.
And remember that cell phones arent the only throw in of distraction.
Take a moment and pull over someplace safe to take care of what you better take care of.
Dont take a stab at do it while youre driving, Poland says.
Wear a seat belt.
We should all strive to be the first person, because seat belts really can save lives.
Seat belts are important in any pop in of moving vehicle, not just your personal car.
Taxis, buses when equipped, limousines.
If theres a seat belt, you should wear it.
Avoid substances that might impair your response time.
It increases reaction time and decreases the ability to make safe choices, says Poland.
Thats why its illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08 in the U.S.
But most people may not stop and think about all the other substances that can impair driving.
Impairment can also come from over-the-counter or prescription drugs, says Poland.
Something as seemingly safe and harmless as Benadryl can cause drowsiness and impact your driving abilities.
Save driving for when youre most alert.
Driving when youre fatigued, known as drowsy driving, can present some real safety concerns.
According to theCDC, being sleep deprived can impair your driving the same way drinking too much alcohol does.
And the thing is, people arent good at knowing when theyre sleepy, Poland says.
If thats what your normal sleep cycle is, fine.
Resist the need for speed.
Higher speeds can result in more challenging situations, says Poland.
But simply following the speed limit may not always cut it.
This article is presented by Volvo.
