Stay Safe on the Roads with a Designated Driver in These Situations
Designated drivers (also known as DDs) are invaluable and often the unsung heroes of many a night out. Whether it's the holidays, your birthday, or you're too fatigued to be behind the wheel, a
designated driver helps to get you to your destination safely, along with your
auto insurance in Banning, CA. While you may not realize it, there are some situations where having a designated driver should be mandatory.
- Drunk Driving
By now, you should know that drunk driving is incredibly dangerous not only for yourself, but for others on the road, too. In fact, 1 out of every 3 traffic deaths involve drunk driving, and it's estimated that, on average, 2 in 3 people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime. The solution is frustratingly simple - if you are going to be drinking, don't get behind the wheel. Call a cab or rely on a designated driver.
- Drowsy Driving
It's been said before that drowsy driving is as bad as drunk driving. A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that drowsy driving is a factor in more than 1 in 5 crashes on U.S. roadways each year. Those who chronically short-change their sleep are at a high risk of getting into a car accident when they're behind the wheel. If you continually miss out on 2 to 3 hours of sleep, you quadruple your risk of a crash.
The simple solution is to get enough sleep every night. Additionally, it's important to plan your journeys well so that you're not driving in the dark. Better yet, get a co-pilot. A designated driver can take the wheel for you while you take a quick nap.
- Distracted Driving
Whether you're trying to text behind the wheel, make a phone call, update your Facebook status, fiddle with the radio, or daydream, driving while distracted can be dangerous. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 431,000 people were injured and more than 3,000 were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015 alone.
Always try to stay focused on the roads. If the notifications from your phone are bound to distract you, turn off your phone, put it on airplane mode, or put it in the trunk so that it's well out of reach. If you desperately need to make a call or text someone, pull to the side of the road or a parking lot, relay the information, and then get back on the road. A designated driver can also be of use by being the driver while you update your social media, find directions, or answer emails.
Stay safe on the roads by driving safe and securing reliable
auto insurance! Get started on securing the right policy for your needs and vehicle by
contacting the professionals at Little & Sons Insurance Services, serving Banning and neighboring cities in California.
