According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is responsible for around one-tenth of fatal car accidents. Distracted driving includes every activity that pulls your eyes off the road, your hands off the steering wheel, or your thoughts off the primary responsibility of driving safely. Distracted driving reduces attentiveness and impairs a driver’s decision-making ability, increasing the chance of a road collision.
“It can be tempting to change the radio station or pick up something from the rear seat while driving, says car accident lawyer Daniel Libbey of Libbey Law Offices, LLC. “It’s important to consider that diverting your gaze away from the road could end up endangering yourself and others.”
Safe driving necessitates focus and concentration; even a split second away from the road can result in disaster. To avoid road accidents, drivers must be aware of the dangers of distracted driving.
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Top Driving Distractions
Understanding the many driving distractions that may cause distracted driving will help to reduce accidents. Below are the top driving distractions:
#1. Looking at Mobile Phones
According to the National Safety Council, mobile phones cause 26 percent of car accidents. While driving, any interaction with a mobile phone like talking, texting, reading texts, or sending emails can cause distractions.
Texting is the riskiest of all mobile phone-related activities. According to the NHTSA, texting is the highest worrying distraction. The agency claims that sending or reading a text pulls your eyes off the road for five seconds. When traveling 55 mph, that is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Texting and driving are risky and can result in collisions. The best recommendation is to put your phone in airplane mode or put it aside while driving. If necessary, pair it with your car’s Bluetooth system and use it hands-free, occasionally.
#2. Using the GPS System
GPS systems can be helpful on the road if properly used. Most cars today have a GPS built-in, and even if they do not, we all have phones that can give us instructions. While driving, setting up your GPS on your phone is just as risky as texting. Even a cursory glance at the directions can result in a mishap.
To use the GPS, make sure you place it somewhere you can effortlessly see it and increase the volume to hear the directions. It is also ideal to have the system up and running before leaving the house or have a passenger that can help you fix it.
#3. Talking to Passengers
Passengers can be a source of distraction in particular situations. For teenage drivers, having unruly youth as passengers makes driving exciting. However, conversations can divert a driver’s attention away from the road and onto their chats.
To avoid a distraction like this, you have to handle the passengers creating a distraction; you can advise rowdy buddies to cease being so distracting. Even if you have to converse, keep your eyes on the road and keep the conversation short.
#4. Managing Children and Pets
Many dogs enjoy going out with their owners. Allowing pets to wander freely in the vehicle can be distracting; they may try to get close to you for petting and may end up near your feet, matching the brakes.
Big pets may also hamper your view of the road leading to accidents. Thus, the safest solution to travel with pets is to keep them in a box or a harness.
Also, dealing with children can be a tremendous distraction for any parent. They want your attention, they argue, and it is hard to stay focused on the road with all of their energy. If you have to travel with children, ensure to strap them up in belts before getting on the road.
#5. Fiddling with Music, Controls, and Reaching for something in the Car
While music can distract you from driving, excessive volume dampens the sound of sirens and other signals that you need to hear. Additionally, drivers may fiddle with what they listen to while driving, like radio or music streaming from their phones. This is another source of distraction that diverts both the eyes and the mind from the driving task.
When drivers glance down at their phone to change the music or reach over to change the radio station, they are not paying attention to the road and are more likely to crash with another vehicle. Instead of modifying the settings while driving, you can do so before driving out or when stopped at a light, or you can even pull over safely and make your adjustments.
Some drivers may also require picking something from the floor beside them or the rear seat. They may believe that reaching for these things while driving is safe; It is not the case. The easiest thing to do is pull onto a nearby parking lot or side roadway where you can safely stop and collect the object.
#6. Eating, Drinking, and Grooming
Many people may not have enough time to eat before leaving for work. They may end up eating or drinking something while driving. The act not only requires one or both hands to eat, but it also diverts their attention away from driving.
People who get cited for grooming while driving are in the same boat. People who are late for work may believe that shaving or applying makeup while driving is acceptable. Nevertheless, this is not the case because these cause distraction and divert their attention off the road, resulting in accidents.
However, you should eat and drink while you are motionless; to eat, pull over to a parking lot or wait until you arrive at your destination. The same goes for grooming. If you cannot finish the grooming before leaving, please wait until you get to your destination safely; but, if you cannot wait, you may finish grooming in the car after pulling over.
#7. Weather and Road Conditions
Heavy rain, fog, and snow can distract and impair vision for drivers. The situation may divert driver attention to struggling to see the road instead of driving safely. Sometimes, windshield wipers and headlights may not be helpful in this situation; it is usually advisable that drivers pull over and wait for clear weather.
Furthermore, driving on icy or snow-covered roads is quite distracting. A driver may become nervous and concentrate on maintaining control of the vehicle rather than driving cautiously. If road conditions are distracting and unsettling, drivers should pull over and wait for them to improve, just as you would with weather conditions.
What If a Distracted Driver Caused My Accident?
If you have just been in a car accident that you believe was caused by a distracted driver, you should report it to the authorities and get medical attention. Then, before signing anything or consenting to anything with the other driver’s insurance company, you shouldt to consult with a lawyer.
The insurance companies are not in the business of ensuring that all of your losses are covered. They are in the business of limiting their losses, which means less money goes to those who deserve it. They are in the business of making money.
A lawyer can assess your case and present you with options to explore. They can also evaluate your claim and negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurer for fair and just compensation. They have the option of taking your claim to court if negotiations fail.
Conclusion
It can be tempting to multitask while driving; this can cause distraction. Frequent driving distractions can divert your focus from the road leading to an accident. Thus, identifying various driving distractions and learning how to avoid these distractions can save your life and the lives of other road users.