Treat driving as a full-time job.

No, I’m not saying to do it 40 or more hours a week.  But when you’re driving, make it your utmost focus.  Cut out those things that distract you from your number one job while you’re driving—keeping yourself and others safe.

Texting:  C’mon, we all know that’s a big no-no.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs:  Same thing.

Driving under the influence of stupid:  What’s that, you say?  Any time you drive and do things you know you shouldn’t, that’s driving under the influence of stupid.  It includes texting, most cell phone usage, gawking at a traffic accident, putting on your makeup, looking down to pick up something you dropped on the floor, checking your hair/face/teeth/etc., in the mirror, getting angry at another driver, becoming so involved with other passengers or the radio that you don’t pay attention to your driving, driving while sleepy, daydreaming, and on and on.  See my post on driving under the influence of stupid.

If we’re going to keep ourselves, our passengers, and even other drivers safe, we must treat driving as a full-time job while we’re doing it.  In other words, we must drive as if our lives depended on it.