RTE 7, WALLINGFORD, VT
802-446-2650
Shaw’s SALES & SERVICE
“The One Stop Shop!”
Go to our website
to shop our inventory
www.shawssalesandservice.com
Ask about our special Ƥ nancing and warranties
Reduce Distractions
A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS FOR OVER FORTY-FIVE YEARS
BEHIND THE WHEEL
Walker Mountain Sales
954 Walker Mountain Road | North Clarendon, VT
(802) 773-3867
XT2 LX FAB efi
• Electric PTO
• Keyless engine start;
easy push-button control
• 46” fabricated, twin blade
cutting deck
• 679cc EFI Cub Cadet V-twin OHV
engine with increased effi ciency
and maintenance benefi ts
FREEDOM Z
Mowing can be fun.
0% Financing for 48 Months Available!
Young’s Farm Equipment
Route 4A
Fair Haven, VT
802-265-4943
Any Body Shop Can Remove Dents, We Remove Doubts.
COMPLETE
COLLISION REPAIR
SPECIALIST
“Serving Greater Rutland and Killington Since 1960”
63 JONES LANE
NORTH CLARENDON, VT 05759
802-775-0233 GARY & NANCY JONES
OWNERS
22 • Spring Vermont Home, Garden & Auto 2019
D
espite the fact that automobiles are now designed with
more safety features than ever before, the rate of traffi c
accidents and fatalities continue to rise. Th e National
Safety Council says safety improvement like crash-
avoidance technology hasn’t reduced accidents, and driver
error is still to blame for many crashes Ñ with distractions
behind the wheel and impaired driving leading the way.
Th e National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration
says distracted driving claimed 3,450 lives in 2016 alone.
Distracted driving is defi ned as any activity that diverts
drivers’ attention from the road. Th is can include everything
from talking to passengers to eating to fi ddling with the
car radio. However, distractions from technology have
become especially alarming, particularly texting or reading
phones while driving. During daylight hours, approximately
481,000 drivers typically use cell phones while driving. Th e
NHTSA says that removing one’s eyes from the road for a
mere 5 seconds when traveling at 55 miles per hour is like
driving the length of a football fi eld with your eyes closed.
Reducing distractions should be a priority for
all drivers. Here are some suggestions, courtesy
of Geico insurance and AAA Exchange.
• Store loose gear and other items that can roll around away
from the driver’s seat so you are not tempted to reach for them.
• Adjust mirrors, GPS maps, climate controls,
music, and more before you put the car in drive.
• Use a mobile phone only for emergency purposes
and only aft er pulling over to the side of the road. Avoid
social conversations on the phone while driving.
• Limit the number of passengers you allow inside
your car. Th e more passengers, the more distractions.
Th is is especially true for young drivers.
• Eat food before getting in the car. Snacking while
driving makes you less attentive to the road around you.
• Secure children and pets accordingly. Both should wear
harnesses and not be given free rein to roam around the car.
• Try to focus only on driving while in the car. Leave
the multitasking to when you’re not behind the wheel.
Geico indicates that studies have shown people are limited
in the amount of information they can process at any one
time. Driving requires focus and an ability to react to a host
of potential circumstances. Distractions compromise drivers’
ability to focus. Reducing distractions can considerably cut
down on the number of motor vehicle accidents each year.