Inattention while driving can lead to crashes, injuries, and deaths. Inattentive driving is a factor in over 80% of collisions and 65% of near-clashes.
There are many types of distractions while driving, including visual, manual, and cognitive. Distracted driving can be as simple as talking on a phone, eating, or even thinking about something other than the road ahead.
Increased Risk of Crash
Using a cell phone while driving is one of the most popular and deadly kinds of distracted driving. It causes visual, manual, and cognitive distractions that significantly decrease a driver’s ability to react quickly to changing road conditions or traffic patterns.
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Looking away from the road can increase a driver’s chances of a crash or near-miss. Similarly, manual distractions such as eating or drinking, adjusting the radio or GPS, smoking, applying makeup, and even reaching for or fiddling with seatbelt buckles increase the risk.
Cognitive distractions also interfere with a driver’s ability to assess the road and weather conditions, anticipate hazards, and make necessary decisions for safe driving. Drowsiness and stress or emotional responses are other forms of cognitive distraction that can result in a crash. Despite the apparent dangers, many drivers are willing to engage in distracting behaviors while on the road. This is especially true among young drivers, who are likelier to use cell phones and have less multitasking experience while driving. Hiring a distracted driver accident attorney can ensure you receive the compensation you deserve after an accident. They can assist you in gathering evidence, navigating the court system, and negotiating on your behalf with insurance providers.
Increased Risk of Injury
Distracted driving can cause much more severe injuries than usual. Compared to accidents caused by other causes, distracted driving raises the odds of injury for all crash victims. There are three types of distractions: visual, auditory, and manual. Visual distractions take your eyes off the road, like turning to talk to a child in the back seat or glancing at a text message. Manual distractions, like eating or reaching for a CD, take your hands off the wheel. Auditory distractions include listening to music or talking on the phone. Finally, cognitive distractions are mental preoccupations or intense emotional reactions.
Any distracting activity can increase your risk of a car accident. Two seconds of your eyes off the road can double your chances of a crash or near miss. That is why it is so important to avoid distracting activities while driving. Young drivers, who are more likely to be engaged in distracted driving collisions, should pay particular attention to this.
Increased Risk of Fatal Crash
While it is impossible to know how many fatal distracted driving crashes occur each year, there is a high percentage of these accidents that can be attributed to cell phone use. This is because drivers texting or using their cell phones for other reasons cannot maintain their proper lane position, react quickly to changing traffic conditions, and assess road hazards.
Studies have shown that cognitive distractions, such as talking on the phone, emailing, texting, or even thinking about something else in your mind, can cause impairment similar to that caused by a drunk driver. This is why many experts believe that the number of roadway fatalities caused by distracted driving is likely much higher than is currently reported.
Increased Risk of Serious Injury
While cell phone use gets the most attention, distracted driving can also include other actions that take your eyes off the road or hands off the wheel. This includes eating and drinking, changing the music, adjusting the climate control, talking to passengers, reading, grooming, tying shoelaces, reaching for objects in the vehicle, and more.
Studies show that even having your eyes off the road for a few seconds at 55 mph can increase your crash risk by up to six times. If you spot a distracted driver, avoid contact and proximity as much as possible.
The best way to prevent distraction-related crashes is through law enforcement and education. Legislation banning cell phone use while driving should be enacted, and schools should teach students, drivers, and safety-critical personnel about the dangers of distracted driving. Drivers should also consider a device limiting or locking phone use when the vehicle is in motion.
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