Tips for Reducing Distracted Driving and Keeping Your Ministry Safe
With April being Distracted Driving Awareness Month, it’s necessary to reiterate how important it is to be safe while on the road. We’ve compiled some some tips on how to help improve your safety while driving church vehicles.
Use your cell phone only for emergency situations
When receiving a text message or phone call, it can be tempting to grab your phone to check your notifications. But those split-second distractions can be enough to cause an accident. Avoid temptation and wait until you’ve come to a complete stop before looking at your phone.
Avoid multi-tasking while driving
In addition to avoiding cell phone usage, you should avoid any sort of multi-tasking to help maintain your focus on driving. Eating, and personal grooming are all common distractions for drivers. Make sure you’re avoiding multi-tasking to help ensure safety.
Set your GPS before leaving
If driving to an area you’re unfamiliar with, you’ll probably be using your GPS to navigate to your destination. Set your GPS before leaving so you’re not trying to set it up while driving.
Don’t drive while tired/drowsy
Tired/drowsy driving can sometimes be as dangerous as drunk driving. Avoid driving or pull off and park the vehicle if you feel yourself being too tired to drive. A quick nap may be all you need to refresh and safely continue your journey.
Reduce the number of distractions within the vehicle
Limiting the number of passengers and keeping a clean vehicle helps reduce distractions. Reaching for something on the floor or getting distracted by passengers can cause you to take your eyes off the road and cause an accident.
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This content has been prepared by United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) for informational purposes only. No article or document may accurately contemplate all possible scenarios or church resources. As such, this information is meant to foster discussion by the individual church and its members to develop a plan tailored to its own circumstances. UMI is providing this information with no warranties or guarantees of any kind and it should not be viewed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. All liability is expressly disclaimed. Any claim examples described herein are general in nature, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for informational purposes only. Any coverage available for a claim is determined from the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of any applicable policy, including any exclusions or deductibles. In the event of a conflict with the content herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.
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