Local Insurance Agency Shares Most Dangerous Days and Months for Daydreaming While Driving (Sponsored Content).
Philipsburg, PA – A review of police data by Erie Insurance shows that Saturdays in September are the biggest days for fatal car crashes involving daydreaming while driving, and Tuesdays in February are the lowest.The company’s previous analysis found that being “generally distracted” or “lost in thought” – otherwise known as daydreaming – is the number-one distraction noted in fatal crashes.
The data is from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which includes information from police reports on the causes of fatal car crashes across the country. Erie Insurance consulted with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to analyze the data, which is maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“Erie Insurance released this new information as part of its ongoing effort to make our roads safer by raising awareness of distracted driving,” said Jennifer Folmar, Hrenko Insurance Agency, Inc.. “We don’t know why one day of a week or month is worse than another but in some ways, that’s beside the point. The main thing we want people to know is that many car accidents are preventable. The key is for drivers to keep their eyes on the road, their hands on the wheel, and their attention on what they are doing.”
The most recent NHTSA data shows 3,166 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2017. The most recent review of FARS data by Erie Insurance resulted in a ranked list of more than 84 combinations (with some ties) of days and months associated with daydreaming while driving. Below are the top and bottom five during 2013-17.
Top 5 Days/Months for Fatal Daydreaming While Driving Crashes: 1. Saturdays in September 2. Saturdays in May 3. Fridays in October 4. Saturdays in August 5. Fridays in July Bottom 5 Days/Months for Fatal Daydreaming While Driving Crashes 80. Sundays in December 81. Thursdays in February 82. Mondays in January 83. Wednesdays in February 84. Tuesdays in February. The FARS data is based largely on police officers’ judgment at the time of a crash, and interviews with those involved.
To help drivers avoid daydreaming while driving, Erie Insurance reached out to Paul Atchley, Ph.D., an internationally recognized researcher who studies distracted driving. One of Dr. Atchley’s top tips is to keep the mind alert with passive forms of engagement, such as listening to a radio show or podcast. The mind will stay alert but will automatically tune out the show if something out of the ordinary happens in the driving environment.
Other tips include:
- Don’t replace boredom with a distraction. For example, never send or read a text to alleviate boredom. Instead, play verbal road games that help you focus, like “I Spy.” Make it even more effective by saying “I Spy a Distracted Driver,” which will help your mind focus even more on the road and defensive driving.
- Keep your hazard perception skills sharp. This means knowing where to look on the road ahead and watching for situations that may require you to take an action, such as changing speed or direction. Examples include a car entering an intersection or a pedestrian crossing the road.
- Consider carpooling with another experienced driver. Just as professional truck drivers sometimes enlist a partner to share the driving duties, Dr. Atchley says having a co-driver can also work for everyday people. Another experienced driver sitting in the passenger seat next to you can serve as a second set of eyes. And, engaging in light conversation while you’re both looking at the road ahead can help keep your mind alert.
“We care about our community and want everyone to make it home safely, every day,” said Folmar. “We hope drivers will think about these tips next time they get behind the wheel and their mind starts to wander.”
For more information contact Jennifer Folmar at Hrenko Insurance Agency at 814-342-5204.