As you hit the open road this summer with your family and friends remember to stay safe by avoiding distractions. Your 安全驾驶 habits can make a difference in saving lives, 包括你自己的, those traveling with you and those sharing the road.

“As emergency room and trauma nurses, all of us have cared for patients that we never forget,斯蒂芬妮·贝尔顿分享道, RN, trauma program manager at the ag亚游官网 ag亚游官网 Highland Hospital Campus (WCHHC). “Almost ten years ago I had a patient that still stays with me today and influenced my own 开车 habits.”

The patient was in a high-speed motor vehicle crash on Interstate-580 near the Fruitvale exit in Oakland. Most people would consider him lucky as he only suffered some abrasions to his face and a fractured forearm. His external injuries were minor compared to the emotional injuries and scars he would carry with him for the rest of his life. “I will never forget walking into the patient’s room as he lay there sobbing and repeating over and over ‘I can’t believe I killed him,’”贝尔顿分享道.

The patient was 开车 with his best friend in the front passenger seat.  The friend had repeatedly told the patient to “deal with it later” referring to an argument he was having with his wife over text messaging. 分心的司机, within seconds of looking down at his phone, rear-ended a stopped vehicle on the shoulder of the freeway and his friend was killed instantly.

According to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (国家公路交通安全管理局), there are more auto accidents during the summer months than at any other time of year and this number only increases when you factor in teenage drivers. 除了, the vast majority of Americans, 超过97%, currently own a cellphone and more than 85% own a smartphone. Talking or 发短信 is the leading cause of 分心驾驶 according to the 国家公路交通安全管理局 and 分心驾驶 is a leading cause of death for teenage drivers.

“We have seen a steady increase in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in the last five years and it has consistently been one of the top two trauma activations at the Highland Hospital Trauma Center,斯蒂凡妮娅·卡弗兰斯说, 垃圾, community injury prevention coordinator. “MVCs have jumped almost 72% since 2013.”

As the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the East Bay, the trauma team at WCHHC serves patients from Alameda County and throughout the Bay Area with the highest possible level of care and expertise.

According to Kaplanes, there are three types of driver distractions. 它们包括视觉, which is anything that takes your eyes off the road; manual, which is anything that takes your hands off the wheel; and cognitive, which is anything that takes your mind off the task of 开车. “Texting is particularly dangerous because it involves all three,” shared Kaplanes.

Sending or receiving a text message takes your eyes off the road for five seconds and at 55 mph that is like 开车 the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed.  After the phone activity ends, the 国家公路交通安全管理局 states that mental distraction continues for up to an additional 25 seconds.

Using a phone while 开车 is not the only threat to your safety, but to the safety of your passengers and others on the road including bicyclists and pedestrians.  There are several other reasons why drivers take their eyes off the road including eating and drinking, listening to music at high volume, conversations with passengers and the use of navigation systems.

Kaplanes shared some tips on how you can take action against distractions while 开车:

  • Program directions and maps before 开车
  • Use the phone app to delay calls and text messages
  • Discourage others from calling or 发短信 while 开车
  • Don’t call or text while others are 开车
  • Request phone-free 开车 if you are a passenger

It’s also important to note that ag亚游官网 (唯有通过) treats MVC patients in the emergency department at the WCHHC that are not activated as traumas.

Ultimately as a driver you have the power to keep yourself and your passengers safe by eliminating distractions and staying focused on the road ahead.

For more tips and resources on how to avoid 分心驾驶 visit: