Four Types of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is an easy habit for almost any vehicle operator to fall into. Distracted driving is basically defined as any activity that will distract an operator that should otherwise be paying attention to the road. Distracted driving can come in a variety of tasks and the four main types of distraction include visual distractions, auditory distractions, manual distractions and cognitive distractions. Each one of these distractions can endanger the passengers and other drivers on the road as well is the driver themselves. Making a habit to focus on the road as you are driving and eliminating distractions in your vehicle can be important.

Even something  as simple as changing the radio dial could mean the difference between getting into an accident and remaining safe on the roads. Listening to a distracting podcast where loud music can also distract drivers easily. Thinking about something other than driving is all that it takes for you to slow your reaction time. Anything to take your hands away from the wheel will do the same.

Almost any type of these distractions will endanger yourself and other people on the road.

One of most common types of distracted driving is texting. Texting is one of the most severe types of distracted driving because it takes away from the visual element of driving, it requires manual dexterity and it also takes cognitive attention away from the process of driving. Many studies have suggested that texting can be just as harmful as drunk driving.

Drunk driving is similar to distracted driving and it impairs the driver’s cognitive skills, visual skills and reaction time due to the intoxicants in their system. Severely drunk drivers have also been known to lose consciousness in the vehicle and this resulting injuries and deaths in a wide range of accident scenarios.

The number of deaths and accidents that are caused by distracted drivers is set to eclipse drunk driving due to the increased prevalence of smartphones and devices inside the vehicle. Based on statistics taken by Virginia Tech, text messaging, dialing and web browsing resulted in the longest duration of drivers taking their eyes off the road.

New state laws into distracted driving and texting while driving are offering quality support to improve road conditions by discouraging this behaviour.

This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of Jenkins Law P.L. Kelly-Anne is a property damage attorney. She focuses on insurance claims and property damage. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision, which should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation.

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