Distracted driving awareness month

This April is, among many other things, a time to focus on driving safety through Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Here at Norm Reeves, we love cars… but safety really is important, so we wanted to talk about some of the biggest issues with driving safety that have popped up in the last few years.

Advancing Technology

Everybody knows that using your cellphone while driving is a capital-letter Bad Idea. The momentary distraction of talking or texting results in a tragedy far more often than anybody would like… but what about the other technology that’s involved with vehicles? It used to be that you were lucky to have climate control and a CD player in your car – now, many new vehicles have entire entertainment systems that can run while driving.

Of course, we don’t think that this technology is inherently bad, but let’s face it: a lot of this stuff is new, and it will continue to be new for some time to come as vehicles with these features make their way into the used-car market and people who never buy their cars new obtain ownership of them. If you haven’t sat in a new car for a few years, chances are you’ll be stunned by how much has already changed… to say nothing of the plans for the future!

It’s easy to love this stuff, but it’s also easy to get distracted by it and forget the most important habits for driving. Cars and drivers alike change over time, so let’s take just a moment to review some of the good-sense ways to use new technology and design features in cars.

Remember, this could save your life.

Safe Use of Features

Did you know that new vehicles like the 2014 Honda Civic can send text messages? It’s true! When linked with a compatible phone and service plan, your car can actually help you read, listen to, and even reply to text messages that you receive – without ever having to dig your phone out of your pocket or purse. However, like any other system, you should only use this feature when driving conditions will permit you to do so safely. The middle of stop-and-go traffic on the freeway is not a good place to use this system – but the side of the road could be!

Another feature that’s been working its way through the market is the expanded-view mirrors on the driver’s side of the vehicle, which help to reduce blind spots… when adjusted properly. You may recall from your driving safety lessons that the positions of the mirrors are very important, and you should always check their positions before you begin driving. Even if you haven’t moved your seat, it’s possible that someone bumped into the mirror and knocked it out of alignment, creating a blind spot where you’re not expecting them.

However, nothing is better for safety than working to drive defensively. When you drive a Honda, you’ll find that every vehicle comes with an entire suite of features to help protect you while you’re driving. Your tires and brake systems are particularly impressive – aside from the basics like anti-lock brakes (that help keep you in control) and Electronic Brake Distribution (which adjusts the power in real-time, based on driving conditions), you’ll find functions like Vehicle Stability Assist that all help to keep you going where you want to go.

Driving defensively is about more than avoiding collisions; it is how your car wants you to drive, and your level of safety will increase dramatically when you’re driving the way you should.