Almost everyone out there is guilty of distracted driving at some point. Whether it’s focusing on a neon billboard, glancing at a beeping phone, or getting lost in thought, your attention isn’t on the road.
While you may only look away for a second, that’s all it takes for an accident to happen that could potentially alter your life forever. In fact, distracted driving is responsible for more than 3,100 fatalities in 2020, and the majority of these accidents are easily preventable.
What is Distracted Driving
What is distracted driving? The behavior is defined as any type of activity that causes you to look away from the road. There are three types of distracted driving, visual, manual, and cognitive.
- Visual distracted driving is looking away from the road.
- Manual distracted driving occurs when you remove your hands from the wheel. This can apply even if your vehicle comes with an automated driving mode.
- Cognitive distracted driving is when your mind isn’t focused on driving.
Did you know if your vehicle is traveling at 55 miles per hour, and you read or send a quick text your car has traveled the length of a football field? Imagine what can happen in 100 yards or so.
In 2019, 424,000 people sustained injuries in distracted driving accidents. Distracted driving accidents not only affect other vehicles and their passengers but pedestrians and cyclists can also be impacted. The CDC notes an estimated 1 in 5 people injured in driving accidents in 2019 were either pedestrians or bicyclists.
Common Causes of Distracted Driving
Knowing the common causes of distracted driving is an effective way of preventing the potentially dangerous behavior.
Talking and/or Texting
We live in an age where everyone is connected almost all of the time; every time we leave our homes, our smartphones are by our side. Mobile phones are plugged into our vehicles to charge and their screens are almost always in view. After all, you never know who may be trying to connect you and you don’t want to miss a message.
There’s nothing wrong with staying in constant communication unless you’re behind the wheel. Even glancing at your phone is a distraction. The best option is to keep your phone in the glove box or purse. This way, you can focus on driving without trying to also pay attention to your phone.
Most modern vehicles allow you to connect your smartphones to the car’s infotainment system. Instead of a small phone screen, you have a 10” or larger dashboard display. This technology allows you to operate your phone with your voice, but it’s still a distraction. Even listening to a voicemail means you’re not paying attention to the road.
Passenger Distractions
Your passengers can be hazards if they distract you from concentrating on driving. This doesn’t mean enforcing a no-talking rule in your vehicle. An awkward silence can be just as distracting as a loud conversation.
However, when road conditions are hazardous or traffic is heavy, try taking the “save it for later” approach. Having your passengers help keep an eye on the road is an effective way of avoiding an accident. Best of all, you can concentrate on your driving.
If you frequently travel with small children, start teaching them basic passenger behavior. This means no yelling or screaming in the vehicle, and never kicking the back of the driver’s seat.
You should also cover the no-throwing rule—you can’t help being distracted if a thrown bottle or sippy cup hits you. If necessary, don’t give younger passengers items that may turn into throwable objects.
Traveling with Pets
We love our pets and want to take them everywhere we can. From leashing up your dog for a trip to the park or a local pet-friendly restaurant, our furry friends tend to go everywhere with us.
Most pet owners leash their animals before placing them in a vehicle. Cats tend to go in pet carriers, but dogs commonly sit on the seat beside their owners.
While dogs love a good look out of the window, this can also be dangerous. One minute your dog is calmly sitting and the next second barking and growling like crazy.
Not looking over at your pet is impossible, and now you’re taking your eyes off of the road. Pets can also jump around in vehicles from the back seat to the front, and vice-versa. Another danger is allowing your pet to ride on your lap while driving.
To stay safe on the road, keep your pets contained in the vehicle. Pet stores carry leashes and harnesses that buckle into the vehicle’s safety belt system. After all, you want your pet to stay as safe as possible, especially if you’re involved in an accident, and the latching leash system can prevent your pet from being tossed around in the vehicle.
Rubbernecking
Pretty much everyone on the road is guilty of rubbernecking at least once. When you pass an accident scene, it’s impossible not to look. Passing any unexpected sight almost instantly turns into rubbernecking, but this also means you’re not watching the road.
Trying to curb your curiosity is difficult at best, and this isn’t a behavior you can change overnight. However, with practice, determination, and a little self-control you can break the habit. If you come upon a sight you just can’t miss seeing, pull over to the side of the road—this way, you’re not endangering other drivers, and you may even be able to get a picture of the astonishing sight.
Eating and Drinking
Almost everyone does it; our vehicles often turn into makeshift eateries. You grab breakfast on your way to work, along with a cup of hot coffee. On top of this, lunch, dinner, and snacks are also consumed in vehicles.
There’s nothing wrong with eating in your car while it’s parked, but eating and drinking while driving is different. What do you do if something drops or spills? You automatically look down almost reflexively—suddenly, you’re not watching the road, and this is exactly when most distracted driving accidents happen.
Talk to an Attorney if You’re Injured in a Distracted Driving Accident
If you’re injured in a distracted driving accident, promptly contacting a personal injury attorney is a wise decision. Although you have a two-year window from the date of the accident to file a claim, delaying action is not advisable.
Engaging with an attorney as soon as possible sets the wheels of justice in motion and allows for the collection of fresh, compelling evidence, which can be crucial in strengthening your case and securing the compensation you deserve.
