Menu
Twelveoaks roofing

Driving Safety 101: What Is Distracted Driving?

VWB Blog 2 years ago 13

According to a recent study conducted by the CDC, 3,142 people died due to distracted driving. Those deaths occurred in the year 2020 alone. There is no telling how many people got injured because of a distracted driver.

No matter the state, distracted driving is an illegal and dangerous practice. To understand the topic better, you need to know what it is. Also, you need to know how to avoid it.

Read on to learn what is distracted driving and how you can help prevent people from driving while distracted.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the road, driving conditions, their speed, and other cars. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.

Types of Distracted Driving

Manual distractions are anything that take your hands off the wheel. Visual distractions are anything that take your eyes off the road. Cognitive distractions are anything that take your mind off of driving.

All driving distractions are dangerous, but cognitive distractions are the most dangerous because they cause you to take your mind off of driving. Even if you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, if your mind is not focused on driving, you are still a distracted driver.

Texting is particularly dangerous because it involves all three types of distractions. When a driver takes his or her eyes off the road to read or send a text message, he or she is not only risking a collision, but also increasing the chances of missing important visual cues, such as stop signs and traffic signals.

The Risks of Distracted Driving

Driving distracted is one of the leading causes of car accidents. Despite the dangers, many people continue to text, talk on the phone, and even use social media while behind the wheel. Anything that takes your mind and eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, can result in a crash.

Distracted driving can happen anytime, anywhere. Even if you are a careful driver, you can be put at risk by someone else who is driving distracted. A local Truck Accident Law Firm is ready to assist if by chance you’re victimized by one.

How to Avoid Distracted Driving

All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. Most accidents are caused by distracted driving. The best way to avoid this dangerous practice is to limit the number of distractions in your car.

Put your phone away where you can’t reach it. Hands-free devices can be just as distracting. Avoid eating or drinking while driving. If you must eat or drink while driving, pull over to a safe area first or eat before or after your drive.

Driving safety is not to be taken lightly, so make sure you are always paying attention when you are behind the wheel. If you can minimize distractions, you’ll be a safer, more responsible driver.

Stay Focused

By understanding what is distracted driving and how to avoid it, we can all help make our roads safer. Remember to always keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your mind on the task of driving. And always, always drive safely!

Check out our other articles for more driving tips on how to help keep you safe on the road.

Written By