When you drive a diesel work truck, you constantly have that feeling of power under the hood. But, as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. Part of that responsibility is making sure you are focused on driving while you are behind the wheel, and with today’s vehicles and the myriad distractions that are available, that isn’t always an easy task. So the pros at Village Diesel Works in Woodbury, MN, want to take the time to point out the three biggest factors in distracted driving.
Your Cell Phone
We get it. Your cell phone is as much a part of your life and business as your truck itself. You are constantly taking calls from customers and potential clients, but it is extremely important to stay off your phone while behind the wheel. There is a reason so many states are imposing tough penalties if you are caught on your phone behind the wheel. Cell phones are the number one cause of distracted driving, and distracted driving kills more than 3,000 people every year. The best way to deal with your cell phone behind the wheel is to keep it in your pocket or put it in the passenger seat. Yes, your business is important, but customers can wait until it is safe to call them back.
Eating & Drinking
You are between jobs and it’s about lunchtime, so you swing through a drive-through and grab a quick burger. The temptation is to eat while driving to save time, but in actuality, this is a terrible idea. Eating and drinking behind the wheel seems innocuous, but it does steal your attention from the road. And what if something goes wrong? Can you say, in all honesty, you’d be focused on traffic around you if you spilled a cup of hot coffee in your lap? No, probably not. Avoid this temptation by waiting until you are stopped to enjoy your lunch.
Your Truck Itself
As vehicles become more and more sophisticated, the distractions inside multiply. Your work truck may not have the fancy touch screen, say, a Tesla might, but chances are it has a radio, GPS, and more. Even fiddling with the radio dial can be a major distraction on the road, so our tip is to set the GPS before you leave, decide on a radio station and leave it there, and avoid all the other car distractions while on the road.
At Village Diesel Works in Woodbury, MN, we want you and your diesel work truck out there earning money. You can’t do that if you’ve been in a distracted driving accident. Our tip is to make sure these distractions are kept to a minimum while you are on the road.