People regularly get distracted in their daily lives. But, a highly distracting activity while driving can lead to serious consequences. Distracted driving is one of the biggest causes of motor vehicle accidents.
Distractions come in three ways: visual, manual and cognitive. A visual distraction is something that is seen. A manual distraction is an activity done with the hands. And, a cognitive distraction is something that takes the mind off of a current task.
While every auto accident is unique, many distracted driving accidents are caused by similar sources. Here’s what you should know:
Phones
Nearly everyone has a smartphone and carries it wherever they go – including the car. Phones are made to draw people’s attention when someone calls or texts. Even social media notifications can cause people to reach for their phones while they’re driving.
When a notification is heard, a driver may look away from the road, take a hand off the wheel and focus more on their phone than their surroundings. Even a few seconds of phone use while on the road can lead to serious injuries.
Food and drink
People who eat and drive often eat with one hand on the wheel. But, having one hand on the wheel likely doesn’t give drivers enough control over their vehicles to avoid accidents. If food suddenly spills (particularly drinks), it could cause a driver to look away from the road in startlement. That can easily lead to a serious accident.
Making safe decisions
You may now understand how to be a safer driver after learning how you could be distracted while driving. But, there are still many other drivers who risk causing auto accidents. If you’re in an accident with a distracted driver, you may need to learn your legal options in order to receive fair compensation for your losses.