CDL: Distracted Driving

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Distracted Driving: Staying Focused Behind the Wheel

Driving a commercial vehicle demands your full attention, every second you're behind the wheel. Distracted driving happens any time something pulls your focus away from the road — and for a driver operating a large, heavy vehicle, even a brief lapse can have serious consequences. This article covers what counts as a distraction, how to avoid becoming distracted, and how to recognize when other drivers around you are distracted.

What Counts as Distracted Driving

Whenever your attention drifts away from the driving task, you put yourself, your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians at risk. Distraction isn't limited to obvious things like taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel — mental distractions can be just as dangerous. It's entirely possible for your eyes to be pointed at the road while your mind is somewhere else entirely, meaning you look at hazards without actually registering them.

A wide range of everyday activities can pull your attention away from driving, including:

• Talking with passengers
• Adjusting the radio, CD player, or climate controls
• Eating, drinking, or smoking
• Reading maps or other materials
• Reaching down to pick up something that's fallen
• Reading billboards or other roadside advertising
• Watching other vehicles or drivers, including aggressive ones
• Talking on a cell phone or CB radio
• Using devices like navigation systems or pagers
• Daydreaming or getting caught up in unrelated thoughts

Avoiding Distraction Behind the Wheel

Reaction time matters enormously — if a distraction slows a driver's response by even half a second, the odds of a crash double. With that in mind, here are habits that help keep your attention where it belongs:

• Get thoroughly familiar with all the safety and usage features of any in-vehicle electronics, including your phone, before you ever start driving.
• Pre-program your radio stations ahead of time.
• Load your favorite music or media in advance.
• Clear out anything in the vehicle you don't actually need.
• Review maps and plan your route before you set out.
• Adjust every mirror for the best possible visibility before starting your trip.
• Never try to read or write while driving.
• Steer clear of smoking, eating, or drinking while behind the wheel.
• Avoid getting pulled into complicated or emotionally charged conversations with anyone else in the vehicle.

Using Communication Equipment Responsibly

Phones and other communication devices deserve special attention, since they're one of the most common sources of distraction. Keep these practices in mind:

• Whenever possible, pull off the road to a safe, legal spot before making or receiving a call.
• If you can, simply turn the phone off until you reach your destination.
• Keep the phone positioned within easy reach.
• Pre-program frequently called numbers ahead of time.
• If you need to place a call, find a safe place to pull over first — never place a call while driving.
• New York's Vehicle and Traffic Law only permits hands-free devices while driving, and even those come with risk when the vehicle is moving.
• If you must use the phone, keep the conversation brief, and develop a strategy for ending calls with talkative friends or associates while you're on the road. Never use a phone for casual social conversation while driving.
• Hang up the moment traffic conditions get tricky.
• Avoid using communication equipment when approaching heavy traffic, road construction, dense pedestrian activity, or severe weather.
• Never attempt to read or type messages on a satellite system while the vehicle is moving.

Recognizing Distracted Drivers Around You

Being able to spot other distracted drivers is just as important as managing your own attention. Failing to notice a distracted driver nearby can leave you unable to react in time if they make a sudden, unsafe move. Watch for the following signs in other vehicles:

• Drifting over lane lines, or wandering within their own lane
• Traveling at inconsistent speeds
• Drivers who appear preoccupied with a map, food, a cigarette, a cell phone, or some other object
• Drivers who seem to be engaged in conversation with passengers

If you spot a driver showing these signs, give them plenty of extra room and hold to a safe following distance. Be especially careful when passing a driver who seems distracted — they may have no idea you're there, and could drift into your path without warning.

Staying focused behind the wheel is a skill that requires ongoing discipline — preparing before you drive, managing devices responsibly while you're on the road, and staying alert to the distracted drivers around you. Together, these habits reduce your risk of being involved in a crash you could have otherwise avoided.