Here's Why You Need to Ditch Your Phone When You're Driving

This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.

Fourth of July isn't just a day of fireworks, bomb pops, and patriotic Instagrams. I was surprised to learn recently that it also happens to be the deadliest driving day of the year. And that's not just because there are more people on the road, many of whom have had too much to drink. Distracted driving is a huge part of the problem, too.

That's why Allstate is bringing an interactive pop-up event to 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada to demonstrate the dangers of distracted driving through their Reality Rides simulator.

I had a chance to try out the simulator earlier this week when the tour came to Lower Manhattan in New York City. Here's how it works: You get into a (real, stationary) car and buckle up. You're then handed a phone, and you start to "drive," following your progress on a curved LED screen behind the windshield. Suddenly, you start to get texts that you're supposed to respond to. But, just like in real life, that takes your eyes off the road, which is never a good thing. The first time I tried the simulator, I rear-ended a car stopped at a red light. The second time, I ran right into a newsstand—and a person.

Eek.

Although I'm not someone who ever texts when driving, the simulator is a good reminder just how important it is not to be that person.

Because distracted driving is scary stuff. Now, I live in a walkable city with great public transportation and really crappy parking, so I honestly don't drive very much. But when I do (usually when we go to our lakehouse on the weekends), the fact that I'm always a little "rusty" behind the wheel makes me extra careful about minimizing distractions.

So, over the years, I've developed a few rules for staying focused while driving, and I wanted to share a few of my top tips with you.

1) Don't use your phone. I mean, duh, right? This one seems obvious, I know, but so many people think they can get away with that one quick text or call. And hey, I get it. I am attached to my phone 99 percent of my waking hours. But not while I'm driving. If I get a call or a text and I can't wait until I get to my destination to answer it, I'll pull over. It's not that hard.

2) Put your phone away. It's not enough to just avoid using it. I find it helpful to physically get it out of my sight. I shut mine away in the center console (or keep it tucked in my purse on the floor of the passenger side) when I'm driving. Otherwise it's too tempting to sneak a peek at the phone if it buzzes or rings.

3) Consider Bluetooth. This allows you to make hand-free calls, so you're not looking down at your phone to dial or search for a contact. We have one of these installed in our own car, and I personally still find it a bit distracting, so I tend to keep my driving time 100-percent phone-free. But my husband definitely uses the Bluetooth. Many new cars come installed with the technology, but if yours doesn't, you can buy a kit like this one and you'll be good to go.

4) Give your kids something to do. One of the most distracting things for me is hearing my kids fighting or complaining. That's why I'm all for iPads (or books or travel games) in the car. If the kids are entertained, they're not screaming, arguing, or whining that they're bored.

So that's how I plan to stay safe this holiday weekend and every time I drive. But I'd love to hear your tips, as well. Do you guys have any strategies for staying phone-free and focused while driving? Are you sticklers for avoiding texts and calls when you're driving, too, or do you sometimes sneak? Be honest!

And of course, if you'd like to find out when Allstate's Reality Rides tour is coming to your town or if you're ready to pledge to "X the TXT" (I've done it!), visit facebook.com/XtheTXT.

Thank you to Allstate for partnering with me on this post.

 ** This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.**