A sign on my running route!
dis·tract·ed
At one time or another, as runners, walkers, and bicyclists, we’re at the mercy of automobile drivers. Are they paying attention with hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, or are they driving distracted?
As a runner, I always try to make sure I’m taking as many precautions as I can when I go out for a run. I only wear one earbud so I can hear cars coming from behind me, and I always run in the opposite lane and move over if I see an oncoming car. I always wear my RoadID bracelet, and make sure to let my husband know where I’ll be running as an added measure. I even take my son sometimes, because two sets of eyes and ears are always better than one!
On the flip side, I’m also one of those people behind the wheel. And it’s hard not to be tempted by that chime or chirp letting me know someone’s commented on my latest post or that I’ve received a text. Heck, sometimes my kids are the biggest distraction in the car.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Auto Alliance want to increase awareness about the risks of distracted driving.
One of my favorite stretches to run.
The Decide to Drive program aims to empower drivers and passengers to speak up about distracted driving, continue the conversation at home, work and play, and reduce distracted behaviors behind the wheel. Orthopaedic surgeons—the specialists who put bones and limbs back together after road crashes and traumas—along with our partners, the automakers, would rather help all drivers “decide to drive” each time they get in the car and to keep bones and limbs intact.
Remember, the most advanced safety feature of any vehicle is the driver. The AAOS and the Auto Alliance urges all drivers to keep their most sophisticated safety features engaged at all times: eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
So the action item for this post is to avoid distracted driving. Drive with your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road at all times. If you look out for me, I promise to look out for you!
And if you take special measures when heading out for a run, walk, or ride, what are they? Share them with us if you don’t mind!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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