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Even if you are looking directly at the road as you drive, you can become mentally distracted, which will prevent you from reacting to obstacles that appear in front of you as you drive. If a passenger brings up a subject you feel strongly about, wait until you've parked the vehicle to discuss the topic. Difficult conversations can distract the driver from things that occur on the road. It can be difficult to pay attention when experiencing strong emotions. Before setting off on a journey of any length, make sure children are safely strapped and secured in car seats and any animals in the vehicle are safely placed where they cannot interfere with or distract your driving. If your dog is restless, put it inside the boot and have a barrier installed between the back seat and the boot ao that it cannot jump over. For extra security, put in in a cage; but ensure it has access to drinking water and gets to stretch it's legs once you stop the car. Have a rest break if embarking on a long journey, and take the dog a walk aswell. Small dogs and similar-sized pets should be kept off of the driver's lap while driving to avoid distractions. Cage them so they don't jump around. Make sure all children are wearing their seat belts and unable to move freely within the vehicle to cause distractions. Children will often fuss if they do not have access to their usual snacks or toys during a car journey. If you have a passenger that may create a distraction, make sure they have everything they need prior to setting off on a trip. Keep snacks or toys within the reach of children so they don't attempt to unbuckle their seat belts or leave car seats. If your vehicle is fitted with a child lock, use it so that the children can't open it from the inside. Reaching around the car to get snacks or pass things to a child can be extremely dangerous while driving. If there are several passengers, you can ensure that another passenger will cater to the needs of the children (eg. snacks, toys, cleaning up) so as to take the worry off the driver. If you are driving with other people in the vehicle, ask that they respect the fact that you would like to drive without distraction. This means passengers should remain in their seats, not move around the vehicle, not play loud music, and not try to gain your attention while you're driving. Passengers should not attempt to distract you or gain your attention while driving; unless it is an emergency. Passengers should remain buckled up and seated while you drive. If something comes up that is unavoidable, such as an important telephone call or a discussion that requires the driver's full attention, simply pull over to avoid allowing the distraction to become dangerous. Pulling over on the side of the road to take phone calls or engage in discussions is safer than doing so as you drive. Using a mobile phone behind the wheel is illegal in many jurisdictions/countries. You can get a hefty fine and/or a driving ban as a result of being caught. Use a hands-free kit or switch your phone off before driving to be extra safe. On many highways, there are rest stops specifically for the sake of phone calls or other things a driver may need to do whilst on the road.
Avoid stressful or emotional conversations while driving. Make sure children and pets are secure. Keep snacks or toys where your passengers can access them. Ask passengers to respect that you're driving. Pull over when you can't avoid a distraction.