Traffic Safety Concerns

Distracted Driving

Overview

Whether it’s a text, a bite of food, or a drifting mind, distractions take attention off the road. At 55 miles per hour, looking away for just 4.6 seconds is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded. In Nebraska, distraction is linked to thousands of crashes each year, touching families, workplaces, and communities alike.

States with the most distracted drivers

Cambridge Mobile Telematics reports Nebraska drivers are among the 10 most distracted nationwide, with nearly 2 minutes of phone use per driving hour. Even if you stay focused, the drivers around you may not.

What You Can Do

For Drivers

Use Do Not Disturb. Even a notification can be distracting. Fear of missing out — or missing an important call — makes it hard to resist despite our best intentions. Do Not Disturb helps by removing the temptation altogether.
Put the phone away. Out of sight, out of mind. Keeping your phone out of reach prevents “just a quick glance” that can turn into a serious crash.
Plan ahead. Adjust GPS, music, and climate before you start moving. Reducing small tasks up front helps you keep your focus where it belongs.
Take breaks. Need to text, eat, or handle something urgent? Pull over safely instead of dividing your attention.
Remember hands-free isn’t risk-free. Even without touching the phone, your brain is still distracted. Reaction time slows, and hazards go unnoticed.

For Employers

Create a Policy. A clear cell phone policy sets expectations and helps protect employees on and off the job.
Schedule a Presentation. Our free distracted driving sessions give employees practical strategies to avoid distraction and arrive safely.
Promote safe habits. Sharing reminders, posters, or brief safety talks keeps the message fresh and shows employees you take it seriously

A Distraction Can Be

Visual Distractions

Anything that takes your eyes off the road. Even a glance of a few seconds can be enough to miss a hazard. Examples include:

Looking at a text message or email
Checking social media notifications
Reading a billboard or roadside sign
Looking at passengers or children in the back seat
Glancing at your GPS or map app too long
Searching for something on the floor or in the glovebox
Watching an accident scene or “rubbernecking”

Manual Distractions

Anything that takes your hands off the steering wheel. When your hands are busy with something else, you can’t react as quickly or maintain full control of the vehicle. Examples include:

Eating or drinking
Adjusting the radio, climate controls, or seat position
Applying makeup or grooming
Smoking or reaching for a lighter
Holding a phone instead of using hands-free
Reaching for items in the back seat, console, or bag
Turning around to grab something or hand items to a passenger

Cognitive Distractions

Anything that takes your mind away from driving. Even with your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, being mentally distracted slows reaction times and decreases awareness. Examples include:

Daydreaming or “zoning out”
Worrying about personal problems or stressful situations
Thinking about work or planning your day
Engaging in deep conversations with passengers
Talking on the phone (even hands-free)
Listening to podcasts or audiobooks so intently you lose focus
Getting lost in music or singing along dramatically
Driving while fatigued, drowsy, or under emotional distress