Every day about 8 people are killed in accidents involving distracted driving. Distracted driving is an epidemic, and it doesn’t just kill drivers and passengers. About 1 in 5 of people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2018 were not in vehicles―they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle.

What is distracted driving? 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving includes: 

• Talking on the phone

• Texting

• Eating and drinking

• Adjusting the radio, stereo, or maps

• Taking your eyes off the road for 5 seconds or more 

Americans know that distracted driving is a problem — but they still continue to do it. A 2018 survey by The Zebra found that while 37.1% of respondents agreed that distractions on cell phones impair the ability to drive safely,  28.6% of all respondents admitted to texting and driving as their number one distracted driving behavior. 

Here are some strategies to prevent distracted driving and stay safe on the road. 

Turn on Do Not Disturb features

If you have a smartphone, turning on it’s “do not disturb while driving” feature is a simple but powerful way to make sure that you’re not distracted by incoming texts and calls. When “do not disturb while driving” capabilities are turned on, phone notifications will be muted and app access will be limited while a vehicle is in motion. 

A 2018 study found that using do not disturb features that automatically turn on while driving reduced phone use while driving by 50 percent. Meanwhile, phone use increased among groups having to turn on do not disturb features at the start of each drive or not using it at all.

Click here to learn how to turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving on iPhone. 

Click here to learn how to turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving on Android. 

Set up navigation apps and music ahead of time

This might sound like a no-brainer, but taking an extra minute to prepare for your drive before taking your car out of park can help you keep your eyes on the road.

If you rely on your cell phone for navigation or music, make sure you set up directions ahead of time to prevent having to touch your phone while on the road. Use playlists, radio stations, or CDs to play music while driving in order to avoid changing the song and messing with your phone. 

If you don’t need your phone for maps or music, put it away in the backseat, glove compartment, or trunk in order to avoid touching it. 

Sign Hunter’s Pledge to End Distracted Driving

Hunter’s Pledge was designed to encourage drivers to commit to safe driving habits. Since 2016, tens of thousands of drivers have signed the pledge and permanently changed their driving behaviors. Studies show that signing a pledge can dramatically and permanently change behaviors. In fact, 55 percent of people who sign Hunter’s Pledge have changed their driving behavior. 

Sign the pledge by clicking here or scanning the QR code below.

Hunter’s Fund

Hunter’s Fund honors the life of Hunter Watson, a young man of extremely diverse talents who was killed at 20-years-old when he was fatally injured as a passenger in a distracted driving collision.

Through distracted driving education and awarding grants to help young people’s involvement in performing arts, music, computer science, and entrepreneurship, Hunter’s Fund empowers young people in their careers and keeps Hunter’s spirit alive.

Does your fraternity or organization want to get involved with Hunter’s Pledge? Click here for more information, or contact Natalie Kwon natalie@hunterwatson.org.