Embracing Safety During Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Kemper Auto is here to help educate drivers on how their choices behind the wheel affect not only their own safety but also the safety of others.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and at Kemper Auto, we’re using this month to emphasize the importance of staying focused on the road. 

Safe driving habits affect not just you, but anyone else on the road and your loved ones in the car. One distracted decision can be a deadly choice.

Defining "Distracted Driving"

Distracted driving occurs when a driver shifts their attention from the road. Common distractions include using a phone, eating, talking to passengers, or adjusting the radio or GPS. 

A quick look at your phone or changing a song might seem like it’ll only take a second, but these actions can make it much harder to notice traffic signals and react to your surroundings. Statistics revealed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed nine people die every day in the United States due to distracted driving.

Distracted driving can also affect your policy rate! According to a 2024 investigation by insurance.com, if you are pulled over, a distracted driving ticket can lead to legal penalties and possibly raise auto insurance rates by up to 28%.

Get Enough Sleep to Stay Focused

Driving requires your full attention. Distracted driving isn’t the only thing that can make the roads more dangerous. Some risks come from the way you take care of your car, but others come from your own choices as a driver.

Did you know that driving while tired is similar to driving drunk? Studies show that sleeping only 3-4 hours can affect your driving as much as having a couple of alcoholic drinks.

The Sleep Foundation suggests the following tips to stay alert:

• If you're feeling tired, pull over in a safe, well-lit place and take a 20-minute nap. If you're still drowsy, rest a little longer.
• Drinking coffee and taking a short nap can help, but caffeine alone may not keep you awake enough to drive safely.
• Try to improve your sleep habits. Go to bed at the same time, avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed, and talk to a doctor if you have trouble sleeping.

Getting enough sleep isn’t just about feeling better, it could even save your life. Before you get behind the wheel, make sure you’re not only alert but fully awake. Driving well starts with sleeping well. 

Learn what other risk factors there are and how they can impact you and others on the road.

The Community Impact  

Distracted driving doesn’t just affect one person, it can impact whole communities. When accidents happen in neighborhoods, people may feel less safe, avoid walking or biking, and public or private property can be damaged.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), drivers hit and killed 3,304 pedestrians in the United States in the first half of 2024.

By understanding how our driving habits impact others, we can all be more responsible drivers. Talking to friends and family about the dangers of distracted driving helps spread awareness and encourages everyone to think about road safety.  

See more on how distracted driving can affect a community.

A Call to Action  

From this month forward, we encourage everyone to drive safely. Here are some ways to get started:

• Use the “do not disturb” setting on your phone to silence notifications or even put your phone out of reach while you drive.
• If your friend is texting while driving, speak up! Offer to read or send a message for them so they can focus on the road.
• Be sure you get enough rest before you get behind the wheel.

Visit our dedicated website for more information on Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Let’s work together to make the roads safer for everyone.