Distracted driving is regarded as any activity that diverts your attention from the road, and it is a significant contributor to traffic accidents in the United States. It poses a great threat to not only the safety of drivers, but also passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Although state laws prohibit distracted driving, people still try to get away with it. According to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving resulted in 3,308 fatalities in 2022 alone. Fortunately, distracted driving is highly preventable and it just requires your willingness to put aside distractions and focus on the road. In this article, we will explore what the four main types of distracted driving are.
Visual Distractions
The first and perhaps most common type of distraction is visual distraction. Visual distractions occur anytime a driver takes their eyes off the road. This type of distraction is particularly dangerous in that your visual attention is essential in making both reactionary or proactive decisions while driving.
Even just a split second of taking your eyes off the road can be the difference between life and death. Some of the most commonly seen visual distractions include texting, checking social media, and adjusting your car controls. Furthermore, do not let visual distractions affect the safety of you and all other individuals on the road.
Manual Distractions
Another main type of distraction is manual distraction. Manual instructions occur when the driver takes either one or both of their hands off the steering wheel. This is incredibly dangerous, for obvious reasons, and is very likely to result in your vehicle veering off into another lane.
Manual distractions include eating and drinking, using your phone, doing your hair or makeup, and adjusting your seat positioning or car controls. As you can see, many of the manual distractions coincide with visual distractions.
Auditory Distractions
Another type of distraction is auditory distraction. This type of distraction includes any sounds that may distract you while driving.
Auditory distractions can be dangerous in that they will not only divert your attention from the road but will also make it difficult to hear important sounds on the road such as emergency vehicle sirens or honking. Some auditory distractions include loud music, phone calls, phone notifications, and even conversations with other passengers.
Cognitive Distractions
The last type of distraction is cognitive distraction. Cognitive distractions occur when your mind is not focused on driving. These mental distractions can include daydreaming, zoning out, being on a phone call, or having thoughts about stressful situations. Furthermore, to drive most effectively and safely, your mind must be focused on the task at hand – driving.
Increased Risk of Accidents
As you can see, there are many opportunities for distraction while driving on the road. Ultimately, this compromises the safety of all individuals on the road and greatly increases one’s susceptibility to getting in a serious accident.
If you wind up in an accident caused by distracted driving, you may be able to recover compensation for the injuries you sustained with the legal expertise of a Kent car accident lawyer. Next time you are driving, remember to remove all distractions to ensure safety and reduce the chance of an accident occurring.
