Stay present. Stay safe.
Engage in the task at hand. Be ready for the unexpected. Let’s look out for one another.
Give your full attention to driving. It’s is a great way to practice mindfulness and enjoy your commute.
Avoid distractions.
- Make use of your phone’s “do not disturb while driving” feature.
- Have children in the car with you? Set an example early.
Drive at a safe speed.
- Drive for the conditions.
- A difference of 5 miles per hour can greatly impact the results of a crash — especially for pedestrians.
Be ready to stop.
- Keep your eyes out for wildlife and people.
Here are some tips to help you stay safe around traffic whether you’re on your way to the bus stop, walking the dog or making your way around town. More bike and pedestrian safety tips can be found at the Safe Alaskans Bike and Walk Safety page.
Be seen.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
- Cross in well-lit areas where drivers can see you.
- Wear bright colors and reflective materials. Order free reflective tape.
Be aware.
- Keep your head up and avoid distractions like texting.
- Check your surroundings and look left-right-left before crossing.
Be predictable.
- Walk on sidewalks or pathways when available.
- When sidewalks are not available, walk on the left side of the road.
Experience your ride with all your senses. Stay safe and engaged. More bike and pedestrian safety tips can be found at the Safe Alaskans Bike and Walk Safety page.
Be seen.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing.
- Cross in well-lit areas where drivers can see you.
- Wear bright colors and reflective materials. Order free reflective tape.
Be aware.
- Keep your head up and avoid distractions like texting.
- Check your surroundings and look left-right-left before crossing.
Be predictable.
- Ride on the right side of the road.
- Use appropriate signals.
Thank you from:
Request outreach materials:
Request informational materials and visual reminders designed to help drivers and cyclists stay ‘In the Moment.’ We also have resources to help pedestrians be more visible. Email us at info@safealaskans.org to request materials or partner in outreach.
Acknowledgements:
- Stephens, A. N., Koppel, S., Young, K. L., Chambers, R., & Hassed, C. (2018). Associations between self-reported mindfulness, driving anger and aggressive driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 56, 149-155.
- Van Dam, N. T., van Vugt, M. K., Vago, D. R., Schmalzl, L., Saron, C. D., Olendzki, A., Meissner, T., Lazar, S. W., Kerr, C. E., Gorchov, J., Fox, K. C. R., Field, B. A., Britton, W. B., Brefczynski-Lewis, J. A., & Meyer, D. E. (2018, Jan). Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation. Perspect Psychol Sci, 13(1), 36-61.
- Feldman, G., Greeson, J., Renna, M., & Robbins-Monteith, K. (2011). Mindfulness predicts less texting while driving among young adults: Examining attention- and emotion-regulation motives as potential mediators. Pers Individ Dif, 51(7), 856-861.
- Kabat-Zinn, J. (2005). Bringing mindfulness to medicine: an interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. Interview by Karolyn Gazella. Adv Mind Body Med, 21(2), 22-27.
- Koppel, S., Bugeja, L., Hua, P., Osborne, R., Stephens, A. N., Young, K. L.,…Hassed, C. (2019). Do mindfulness interventions improve road safety? A systematic review. Accid Anal Prev, 123, 88-98.
- Koppel, S., Stephens, A. N., Young, K. L., Hua, P., Chambers, R., & Hassed, C. (2018). What is the relationship between self-reported aberrant driving behaviors, mindfulness, and self-reported crashes and infringements? Traffic Inj Prev, 19(5), 480-487.
- Rohl, A., Eriksson, S., & Metcalf, D. (2016). Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Front Windshield Sticker Reminder in Reducing Texting while Driving in Young Adults. Cureus, 8(7), e691.
- Stephens, A. N., Koppel, S., Young, K. L., Chambers, R., & Hassed, C. (2018). Associations between self-reported mindfulness, driving anger and aggressive driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 56, 149-155.
- Stephens, A. N., O’Hern, S., Young, K. L., Chambers, R., Hassed, C., & Koppel, S. (2020). Self-reported mindfulness, cyclist anger and aggression. Accident analysis and prevention, 144, 105625-105625.