Car manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve vehicle safety. First, cars had airbags and seatbelts and, now, many vehicles have lane auto-correction and self-driving features. However, there’s one issue that manufacturers can’t effectively put a stop to, which causes thousands upon thousands of accidents each year – distracted driving.
There are three primary kinds of distracted driving: visual, manual and cognitive. Visual distraction leads drivers to take their eyes off the road. Manual distractions cause drivers to take their hands off the wheel. And, cognitive distraction draws a driver’s attention away from the task of driving.
Oftentimes, people are engaged in all three kinds of distracted driving. These are three of the most common kinds of simultaneous distracted driving behaviors that endanger travelers in the U.S. each and every day.
Texting and driving
Nearly everyone has seen someone text and drive, whether it’s a friend or family member or someone driving alongside you while you’re at the wheel. Many people don’t think it’s much of an issue to quickly look at their phone while driving. However, texting and driving is visually, manually and cognitively distracting all at the same time. As a result, many distracted driving accidents are caused by texting and driving.
Eating and drinking
Likewise, eating and drinking don’t seem like much of a problem to some people, especially since many restaurants have drive-thru services and eating while driving is arguably part of American car culture. Yet, people have to take at least one hand off the wheel to eat and drive. In some cases, the grease from the food can create issues operating a vehicle safely. Also, a spilled drink or meal can startle a driver, causing them to look away from the road.
Radio and AC control
Nearly every vehicle is equipped with a radio and AC. These features have made driving more comfortable. However, fiddling with these controls can take a driver’s attention away from the road and limit their control over the wheel. This may seem like a minor distraction, but it can have huge consequences.
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, then you may need to reach out for legal help to ensure you’re compensated for your harm. Just because distracted driving is common doesn’t mean it’s acceptable.