Distracted driving is perhaps one of the biggest causes of car accidents. Distracted driving occurs anytime something takes a driver’s attention away from the road. There are three kinds of distractions:
- Visual: things that cause the driver to look away from the road
- Manual: things that lead drivers to take their hands off the wheel
- Cognitive: things that result in a driver taking their mind off of driving
While the above explains how exactly a driver may be distracted, it doesn’t exactly explain what distractions are and how they relate. Here’s what causes distracted driving:
Texting and driving
The biggest cause of distracted driving is phones. Nearly everyone has a phone and many people can’t seem to put them down.
For example, a driver may hear their phone chime from a text, which can lead to a manual and cognitive distraction. First, they’ll think about their phone, rather than the road. Then reach for it, leading to them taking their hands off the wheel. And finally, they’ll be visibly distracted as they look at their texts, which can be dangerous even if the car is motionless at a stop sign or red light.
Eating and drinking
Many people don’t realize how dangerous it is to eat and drink, especially since many fast food places advertise their meals to drivers. Road users frequently think about their meals while driving, such as worrying about their food getting cold or how good it’ll be once they have something on their stomach. Additionally, eating and driving is dangerous because people have to take their hands off the wheel.
Perhaps you don’t do any of the above, however, other drivers are less considerate. As a result, you may end up in a car accident with a distracted driver and may need to understand your legal options when seeking compensation for your injuries and losses.