FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Don't Be Distracted Behind the Wheel

By Jeff Rose, Professional Truck Driver with Yellow, American Trucking Associations’ America’s Road Team Captain

I am Jeff Rose, an American Trucking Associations’ America’s Road Team Captain and professional truck driver with Yellow. I have been driving for 38 years and have accumulated 3.8 million accident-free safe driving miles.

Distracted driving exists on every highway, two-lane road and country dirt road. Technology has become a major distraction on roads all around the country. Cellphones are not the only distraction I have seen in my 38 years of driving. I have seen drivers shaving, putting on makeup, reading newspapers, reading books, doing work on laptops and watching movies.

The definition of distracted driving is anything that takes your attention away from the road. Examples include reaching for something, talking to a passenger, doing anything on your cell phone and letting your mind wander. Believe it or not, eating while driving is a distraction.

Just to glance at your phone takes approximately one-and-a-half to two seconds, and the average person’s reaction time is

approximately two seconds. That means nearly four seconds can pass before the average driver can react. This is like driving the length of a football field while blindfolded. If a driver is following a vehicle at 80 feet, driving 55 mph, they are only one second behind the vehicle in front of them. This means if they were distracted, it would only take one second to hit the vehicle in front of them. This is just one example of how a distraction while driving can cause an accident.

There is more traffic on the roads now than ever before, and that means more distractions too. We all need to take responsibility and put our phones down. Your phone calls and texts can wait. Get up a little earlier so you’re not shaving, putting makeup on or doing work on your computer. Put your phone out of reach or turn it off while driving. We need to be the example to our loved ones. I teach teens that when they are a passenger, they must remind their peers and parents to pay attention.

During the winter months, much of the country has snow and ice. If a driver takes their concentration off the road in these conditions, it could end up in a disaster.

Distracted driving has financial consequences also. You may be fined or get points on your license. Your insurance rates may increase, or you could be dropped completely by your insurance. The worst-case scenario is that you could be incarcerated.

As an America’s Road Team Captain, I go to schools and talk to young people who are starting to drive. Not only do we work with young drivers, but we talk to teachers and school administrators. Every opportunity I have to talk to someone about safe driving, I educate them on what could happen if distracted while driving. No matter how many years of experience you might have behind the wheel, we all get distracted. We all want to get to our destinations safely. I know I want to get home to see my wife, kids and grandkids. It does not matter whether you are driving a commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle or a car; everyone’s loved ones want them home safe.

Remember the best part of the day is when you are home safe with the people you love. So, ask yourself what you can do to stop distracted driving. Drive safe in 2023.