April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Philadelphia Insurance Companies has made it a priority to educate drivers on the importance of staying aware while behind the wheel. Etler-Kettenacker Agency stands behind this campaign to make drivers aware of the dangers of driving while distracted. First, we must admit we all do it. Our cell phone rings and we glance to see where it is on the seat next to us or in our purse. We glance away from the road just for a few seconds. Later in this blog we will see what can occur in a few seconds. First, what does the government consider distracted driving? Distracted driving is any of the following activities:
- Using and Cell Phone or Smartphone
- Adjusting a Radio, CD Player or MP3 Player
Now that we see that we are all guilty of one or more of these things, I know I am, let’s look at the government statistics associated with distracted driving. Why is sending a text message so dangerous? It is estimated that it takes an average of 5 second to send a text. Here is the alarming part; the five seconds you took your eyes off the road, if traveling 55 mph, you will have travelled the length of a football field blind-folded! Why is distracted driving a problem and why is Distracted Driving Awareness Month important? At any given moment during daylight hours in the U.S. there are 660,000 vehicles being operated while using a cell phone. What damage does distracted driving cause? In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in distraction related accidents and another 421,000 people were injured in MVAs that involved distracted drivers. Who is most likely to be a distracted driver? If you guessed teens, you are correct but they are not alone. Drivers in their 20’s make up 27% of the people involved in distracted driving fatalities.
As you can see from the statistics above distracted driving is becoming more of an issue on our roads. Most of us are guilty of any of the activities listed above that are the definition of distracted driving. This is why Philadelphia Insurance Companies and Etler-Kettenacker Agency want to educate each other, clients and friends about the dangers of distracted driving. During Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Philadelphia Insurance Companies offers a short course and certification on distracted driving. If you are one of the first 1500 people to take this educational survey they are offering a free First Aid kit. You can take the survey at PHLY.com/safedriving. Etler-Kettenacker Agency encourages everyone to take the short survey offered by Philadelphia Insurance Companies. Much of the information is common sense but we all will be enlightened on our own driving habits. EK Agency would like all of their friends and clients to be safe on the road!