At Porsche of Jacksonville, we’re more than “just” your local Florida Porsche dealers. We’re also drivers who share the road with you. With that in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to share some tips that can help all of us eliminate, or at least reduce, distracted driving.
As technology has evolved over the years, the number of things that can distract drivers has increased. Texting, updating your social media pages, and talking on the phone are all things that can now take our attention away from where it needs to be – on the road.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of fatalities caused by automobile accidents increased by 10.4 percent in the first half of 2016. While distracted driving isn’t the only factor that caused this increase, many safety officials acknowledge that distracted driving has become one of the primary causes of car accidents in recent years.
Here are four tips you can use to reduce or eliminate distractions when you’re behind the wheel:
-Before you start your engine, turn off your mobile phone. If you simply can’t bring yourself to turn your phone off, everyone at our Jacksonville, FL Porsche dealership strongly recommends that you set it to auto-answer so you won’t be tempted to use it unnecessarily while you’re driving.
-While navigation systems are great features, they can be distracting if you have to constantly look at a screen to see where you’re going. To avoid this, be familiar with how to get to your destination before you leave home. If you need directions after your departure, pull over, enter the address you’re traveling to, and use your vehicle’s voice-navigation feature to lead you to your destination if your car has one.
-If you’re feeling emotional for any reason, wait for your nerves to settle before you pull out of your driveway. It’s easy to become distracted when you’re angry, frustrated, anxious, or upset because these feelings often make people think about what brought them on instead of what’s happening on the road. Stay safe by waiting for your mind to clear before you start your trip.
-We know it’s a ton of fun to travel with friends and family members. We also know that a loud or passionate conversation can become distracting. If things have gotten too noisy, ask your traveling companions to keep the volume down. If you find a particular topic unsettling, ask your friends or family members to leave you out of the discussion. If you can’t resist participating in a given conversation that requires your full attention, pull off the road before joining in.
As it is for the Porsche brand, your safety is our top priority. Follow our tips to eliminate distracted driving to keep yourself and others safe on the road. And remember to make a car service appointment with Porsche of Jacksonville before you leave home for a road trip so we can make sure your vehicle is prepared to handle the rigors of the road safely.
