Most car accidents can be avoided if the parties involved concentrated on the road in front of them and their surroundings. But, distracted driving is an all-too-common occurrence on the roads of Missouri these days. Here are some tips for preventing Missouri distracted driver car accidents.

One of the most important tips is to put the cellphone away when driving. Do not even have it in your sight when behind the wheel. If you do, it makes it more tempting to look at text messages and emails and to answer calls.

Avoid eating, drinking, shaving, applying makeup and doing any other activity that could distract you while behind the wheel. Distracted driving is not limited to the use of a cellphone. Drivers can become distracted while doing plenty of other activities when driving.

Do your best to keep children from screaming while driving. This can be easier said than done, but screaming children can cause a driver to lose focus while behind the wheel. Even having a calm discussion with a passenger while driving can lead to distracted driving accidents.

Changing the radio stations often can lead to a distracted driving accident. The more you do while driving, the more likely it is that you will be involved in an accident. People who check their phones are three times more likely to have an accident compared to those who do not check their phones.

Distracted driving is a problem not just in Missouri, but across the country. Think about this: The average person needs five seconds to text. While driving at a speed of 55 mph, your eyes would be off the road for the length of a football field.

Some 80 percent of accidents involve distracted driving in Missouri. Missourians under the age of 25 account for more than 30 percent of traffic deaths. This is the largest age group of traffic deaths in the state.

To learn more about distracted driver car accidents in Missouri, visit our web pages on the topic.