Distracted driving is dangerous for the driver and other motorists. It causes around one in four accidents and nearly eight in ten accidents involve brief driver inattentiveness in the seconds preceding the accident. With simple attentiveness, drivers can prevent most traffic accidents. Unfortunately, drivers face many distractions behind the wheel. By avoiding five common distractions, drivers can help reduce the probability of an accident.
1 Mobile Phone Use
Mobile phone usage causes nearly a quarter of all accidents. Merely talking on a cell phone creates two risks for the driver. First, the driver must dedicate cognitive resources to the conversation, reducing the driver’s ability to recognize threats and take preventative action. Even drivers using a hands-free system are forced to split their attention between the roadway and their conversations. A second, lesser concern is that physically using a mobile phone takes the driver’s hand off the wheel.
Many drivers will receive and send text messages while driving. Texting is particularly hazardous as it also removes the driver’s eyes from the road for extended periods. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, each time a driver sends or receives a text message, his or her gaze is removed from the roadway for 4.6 seconds. At 65 miles per hour, drivers cover over 95 feet every second, creating a substantial risk of harm to other motorists. In most states laws have been enacted to prevent texting while driving. If you are in an accident in the tri-state area then report it to a police officer and call a car accident attorney in Maryland.
2 Eating
Many Americans depend upon fast food to get through the day. Drivers on rushed schedules will commonly finish meals behind the wheel to minimize the time spent dedicated to eating. However, eating behind the wheel causes the driver to divert his or her attention to the food. This may be brief or protracted depending upon the nature of the food. Drivers divert their attention further after dropping food. For particularly messy meals, oils and sauces can reduce the driver’s grip on the steering wheel.
3 Grooming
Americans also tend to multitask when it comes to grooming. Shaving, applying makeup, and arranging one’s hair all requires the driver to avert his or her gaze and focus on a mirror. Drivers who focus on the vanity mirror ignore the road and endanger other motorists. Drivers should take care of their grooming habits before they get into the vehicle or wait until they have reached their destination before addressing their grooming needs.
4 Passengers
Automobile passengers are another common source of distractions. In an ideal world, automobile passengers would be quiet, civilized people. In practice, bouncing children, intoxicated friends, and backseat drivers who believe that they are being helpful frequently distract the driver. Drivers have greater difficulty remaining alert to road conditions when passengers are creating motion in the driver’s peripheral vision and making distracting statements. Drivers should insist that passengers not move about the vehicle and avoid from making any noises that suddenly distract the driver.
5 Onboard Electronics
Many modern vehicles are equipped with steering-wheel mounted radio controls, allowing the user to control everything including the navigation system without taking their hands off the wheel. Unfortunately, not every vehicle is equipped with steering-wheel mounted radio controls and some buyers still insist on fiddling with center-mounted controls. This can reduce the incidence of distractions caused by the radio.
However, many modern vehicles include features such as satellite navigation and radio, adjustable suspensions, and other features controlled from an internal computer. Drivers who wish to access traffic and weather updates often must operate a rotating and moveable lever to scroll through menus. This requires viewing the central navigation screen and reading its contents to determine whether the user has accessed the correct page. Drivers of vehicles without basic buttons to directly access features may find it easy to become distracted by a car’s features.
Some types of distractions are more common than others are. However, all distractions feature a common theme; the driver diverts his or her attention from the roadway onto some unnecessary factor. The best solution to avoid distracted driving is to not multitask behind the wheel. Drivers who are alert, practice defensive driving, scan the road well ahead of the vehicle, and drive in a manner appropriate for conditions can normally avoid causing harm to other motorists.