by Kristen Bevilacqua

Created on: September 11, 2009   Last Updated: September 13, 2009

It is easy to say doing two things at once does not affect your driving or your safety. We sometimes have high expectations of our driving ability and what we are able to multitask at one time. In reality though, it is not always your driving that can get you into a terrible situation on the road. Other drivers may be doing multiple things while driving as well. They could be inexperienced drivers and make an amateur driving decision that affects you or they could even be driving drunk.

It is your ability to react quickly that will keep you and your passengers safe. If you are distracted by any of the following things, you will be putting everyone in your car in harm's way, since your reflexes will certainly be delayed:

Forget to Buckle-up
First and foremost, the car should not even be put into "Drive" until the driver and all passengers in the car have fastened their seat belts. In many US states, this is the law. However, in all states, it's smart. If you try to buckle your seat belt once you have already started to drive, perhaps after you have spotted a police car, you are not paying strict attention to the road or your driving.

Cellphone Usage
Another activity while driving that is at the center of much controversy is cellphone usage. Again, most US states have laws against talking on a hand held cellphone while driving. Some have even outlawed talking on the phone with a hands-free device. If your attention is on anything else beside the road, other cars and your own driving, then you are not driving safely. Text messaging while driving is even more distracting as a driver since you have to look at the phone to check what you have typed and hit a series of keys to address and send the message.

Finish Getting Dressed
Many of us are guilty of this one. You're running late for work in the morning. You hop in your car mostly ready for work, but with the intention of putting on your make-up or tying your tie at the first traffic light. Once you shift your attention to your eyeliner or fixing your collar, you are no longer paying attention to the road or the cars around you. Perhaps you are certain you will notice out of the corner of your freshly-mascaraed lashes that the light has turned green and you will immediately start to drive. But are you also absolutely certain that you will notice a car in the other direction, trying to make the light, that guns it through the intersection even though the light was red? That is not a chance anyone should take with their

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