Break Your Texting-While-Driving Habit

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Safety | 0 comments

Stopping the texting habit can be really hard. We’re glued to our phones seemingly 24/7, and the alerts, dings, and chimes make them irresistible even when we’re behind the wheel.

This dangerous yet pervasive habit is causing some sobering statistics: 1.6 million crashes each year, with almost 390,000 injuries and more than 2,800 deaths.

Technology’s not going away anytime soon and self-driving cars are still off in the future – so how do we stop texting? Let’s look to psychology for some guidance – specifically, to some mental hacks to kick a habit.

How Habits Form

For a habit to become ingrained, a “habit loop” must first become established. This loop has 3 elements:

1. This is the trigger that tells your brain to do something, like grabbing the phone when you hear a text chime. It’s often automatic—we don’t even realize we’re doing it.
2. This is the behavior or action itself. Here, it’s picking up the phone and typing out a text reply.
3. If there’s a reward after the behavior, it strengthens the habit loop. In this case, that might be an actual or anticipated reply, or the satisfaction of sending off that text that you keep meaning to send.

No wonder habits are so “sticky”—each step reinforces the next. Understanding how it works in your life is key to breaking the habit and forming a new one. It just takes a little self-awareness and a commitment to change.

Breaking the Habit Loop

By disrupting one or more components of the loop, you can transition to a life of text-free driving.

1.Review Your Cues: Figure out what’s making you reach for your phone.

1. 1. • If you can’t ignore the sound alerts, turn your phone to silent and stash it out of sight (or better yet, out of reach).
      • Install an app that silences your phone while you’re driving. These apps detect when your car is in motion and automatically silence it for the duration. Options include Not Disturb While Driving (iphones), Driving Detective for Android, or Google’s Android Auto.
      • If your cue is boredom, practice mindfulness (a great skill for all aspects of life).

2. Refresh Your Routine: A few tweaks could make a big difference.

• • • Send texts before you leave, then put away the phone.
    • If you have a passenger with you, have them be your thumbs.
    • Sign off a conversation with X or #X, which means you’re driving.
    • Let your 5 closest contacts know you’re changing it up. Most of our communications are just with them.

3. Reframe Your Rewards: Really contemplate the risks of texting while driving.

• • • Think back to a texting close call. Think through the worst-case scenario. Now write it down and keep it in plain view in your car. Read it every time you get in.
    • Whenever you feel a temptation to reach for your phone, think of who would be devastated if you were to crash while texting.
    • When not reaching for your phone, embrace the feeling of not being anxious and distracted.

Want to really kickstart your commitment? Sign The National Safety Council’s Just Drive pledge.. If you have young drivers at home, team up, and make the commitment together (and get safe driving tips for them here).

This article is furnished by California Casualty. We specialize in providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.

5 Driving Experiences Your Teen Needs

by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Safety | 0 comments

Teen drivers are the most accident-prone of all drivers because of one major factor: inexperience. In fact, their first 6-12 months of solo driving is the most dangerous stretch of their lifetime as a licensed driver.

Because they’ve logged far fewer hours compared to other drivers, they are less able to predict – and properly respond to – hazards, sudden changes in traffic and erratic behaviors by other drivers. They also typically haven’t made a habit of defensive driving techniques, leaving them vulnerable to making wrong decisions in the moment.

If you have a young driver (or soon-to-be licensed driver) in the house, as a parent, your years of driving experience are an invaluable asset. Here are some ways you can leverage that knowledge and expertise to help boost your teen’s safe driving know-how.

The Learning Permit Phase: A Golden Opportunity

Many new teen drivers complete their learner’s permit training lacking important real-world driving skills. You can help your teen shore up that deficit by serving as co-pilot in a range of driving scenarios and situations during the permit phase. By exposing them to – and coaching them through – diverse experiences behind the wheel, you will help them become a confident, safe and independent driver.

Although you may feel more secure behind the wheel, here are some driving scenarios that teens need to experience.

1. Bad Weather

There’s a big difference between answering driver test questions about how to handle bad weather and how to actually do it in the moment. When possible, have your teen drive you during the following weather events.

• Snow
• Wind
• Heavy rain
• Sleet

2. Different Roads

Different roadways (and intersections) call for different driving skills and techniques. Ditto for traffic situations. Expose them to as many as you can, including:

• One-way roads
• Two-lane roads with high-speed limits
• Peak commute traffic
• Multi-lane highways and interstates
• Congested roads in urban centers
• Residential streets

3. Day, Night, and Everything in Between

Bright light at dawn and sunset, as well as low light at dusk, affects drivers’ visibility and also influence traffic patterns and behaviors. Practice driving with your teen at different times of day and night. Coach them on the adjustments they need to make in terms of following distance and defensive driving, as well as personal adjustments with visors, sunglasses, headlights, and more.

4. Switch up passengers

For a new driver, devoting their full attention to driving and the road is incredibly important. Knowing that your teen won’t be driving alone forever, why not invite another family member or friend along so your teen can start strengthening their “focus muscles”? Distractions are a major cause of accidents among teens, so the sooner they can begin successfully managing distractions while driving, the better.

5. Different cars

If your family has multiple cars, have your teen practice in each of them. Sedans drive much differently from SUVs, and stick shifts from automatics, etc. – all are good for them gaining familiarity with a variety of vehicles.

Teen Drivers’ Most Common Errors

In addition to exposing your young driver to a range of on-the-road experiences, be sure to also help them cultivate good driving habits. Here are the top errors that inexperienced drivers make – keep an eye out for them and coach your teen along the way.

1. Lack of scanning – Inexperienced drivers typically detect hazards later than more experienced drivers and may be unsure how to react. Left turns are especially dangerous for them.
2. Distractions – No matter whether they come from inside or outside the vehicle, distractions are a common reason for teen crashes.
3. Speeding – This includes driving too fast for road conditions or weather as well as inadequate braking. This error commonly ends in rear-end events.
4. Tailgating – Inexperienced teens haven’t yet gained a feel for safe cushion distances and can easily follow other vehicles too closely.

Teens need extra time and experience to master good driving skills. By accompanying them in a variety of driving settings and conditions – as well as lending your years of expertise – you’ll help them develop critical skills for more safely navigating our roadways. For more teen driver safety tips, click here.

This article is furnished by California Casualty. We specialize in providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.