Awake at the Wheel CD Offers Effective Techniques to Prevent Distracted Driving

May 29, 2012 - PRLog -- Northampton, MA – Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts. In 2008, nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured. Studies also show that using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: US Department of Transportation - www.distraction.gov/stats-and-facts) The CD Awake at the Wheel: Mindful Driving offers a much-needed antidote to the dangerous distractions of phone calls, texting, daydreaming, and multi-tasking while driving.

Michele McDonald, veteran mindfulness instructor and co-founder of Vipassana Hawai'i, created a series of guided exercises to help motorists bring their full attention to driving, and stay present and peaceful on the road. The CD is also a resource for seasoned meditators to integrate their mindfulness practice into their daily life through a focused and calm commute.

The exercises teach drivers to:    

-   Notice and transform “auto-pilot” driving into full alertness
-   Become aware of our moment-to-moment experiences
-   Let go of negative emotions and repetitive thoughts
-   Develop kindness for others on the road.

“Have you ever wondered while driving, ‘What exit am I at?’ That means you haven’t even been paying attention for the last few minutes,” said McDonald. “During that time you were having thoughts, but you weren’t noticing them. You were also driving, but you weren’t noticing that either! I think the very nature of driving is difficult to be present in. We’re often so focused on getting somewhere. That’s why driving can be such a rich space to practice mindfulness and being present. It’s a daily routine where the combination of awareness and peace of mind are crucial for the well-being and safety of ourselves and our fellow drivers.”

A sample audio clip from the CD is available at www.morethansound.net/mindful-driving.html.

About Michele McDonald

Michele has taught Insight meditation for nearly 30 years. She teaches extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Burma. Michele is the first woman to teach a formal retreat in Burma, side-by-side with a senior monastic figure, Sayadaw U Lakkhana, Abbot of Kyaswa Monastery. Her teaching style gently strengthens mindfulness and concentration to help people access the peaceful depths of their experience in every moment.

About More Than Sound

More Than Sound collaborates with today’s leading thinkers to produce original audio content, podcasts, ebooks and online trainings that spark and support personal growth. Our informational and inspirational work illuminates emotional intelligence, leadership, wellness and mindfulness.

Contact Mike Sjostedt at 413-587-0818 or mike@morethansound.net for more information. Visit www.morethansound.net to learn more about More Than Sound.

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