How to Safely Multitask While Driving

It is questionable whether or not multitasking while driving is ever really that fine to do. An occasional glance in the direction of the person in the passenger side, a quick glance up at your mirror to see your child in the back seat or the pressing of the radio button to change the station is minor multitasking but they are still things that take your attention away from what is most important, driving safely. Everyday life often require some form of multitasking while you are driving but there are ways that you can do other small tasks while driving that still allow you to drive safely.

The first thing that comes to everyone's mind when they think about driving and multitasking is the use of a cell phone. This is because cell phones are so popular now and cell phones in cars are widely seen. Talking on the phone and driving at the same time is not a good idea though. Even a hands free device still has your attention focused elsewhere from driving. When you are paying attention to what someone on your cell phone is telling you, thinking about what you think about it and what you are going to say to their statement or question and then verbally replying takes more attention than we realize. This is attention that should be focused on driving and attention that is taken away from your quality of driving. For this reason it is best to know exactly where your cell phone is before you start driving. This way in the event that your cell phone rings while you are driving you can easily grab it to see who is calling. If it is a call that you must answer, only talk for a minute. If the phone call requires more time pull over and finish the phone call completely before returning to the road.

If you play music in your car while you are driving make sure that before you start driving that you take the time to get the CDs that you plan on listening to in the CD player of your car. This way the only multitasking that you have to do while driving and listening to music is pushing a button if you truly feel the need to change the song. If you only can have one CD in your car's CD player but know that you will be changing the CD later on in the drive have the CD easily accessible and wait to change them until you are at a stop sign of red traffic light. Like the controls on the car radio use the heat and A/C controls when you are stopped as well. It is a good idea to do all if you have to do any multitasking while driving that you do it when your car is stopped. However it is never a good idea to do something at a stop sign or a red traffic light that requires you to take your foot of the brake pedal and/or takes longer than half a minute. For instance it is never a good idea to try and put on makeup or brush your hair while you are driving even if you are stopped at a stop sign or at a red traffic light. If you need to put on your makeup before you reach your destination wait until you are in the final parking lot, parked, and put it on then. This is true for any hair brushing that you need to do as well.

When you are traveling with a child make sure that they can reach anything that they might need in the car or that you can easily reach it to and hand it to them, which you may want to pull over to do safely. If you are going to be eating or drinking anything, non-alcoholic of course, while you are driving wait until you are at a red traffic light or stop sign to do so. Doing an additional thing while you are driving really should be avoided if you can help it. Remember if you have to do anything in the car while driving that you do it with a lot of caution.