Types of Distracted Driving
Car accidents are devastating, especially because one can never tell when they’ll happen. But if you are driving while distracted, getting involved in a car accident shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Distraction is a big-time safety concern. And not just when driving, but when doing other tasks requiring all of your attention. Many folks think they can multitask, but while the brain has billions of neurons, there is no such thing as handling multiple tasks simultaneously. It only switches between tasks when you choose the information to process.
Forms of distracted driving
Distracted driving has various forms and causes a lot of accidents. When operating a vehicle on the road, a person should maintain focus at all times until they reach their destination.
Anything that takes a driver’s attention off the road is a distraction—most distracted driving results from phones. The popularity of those little smartphones has increased distracted driving by a significant percentage. Sending texts, checking social media status, taking selfies, or checking the GPS while driving is distracted driving. Eating while driving is a serious risk too.
Herein is a look at the main types of distracted driving and their impact on the driver.
Visual Distraction
Visual distraction is anything that makes you take your eyes off the road. Visual distraction examples include reading a billboard, checking out people on foot or passengers, scrolling through the phone, etc.
Cognitive distraction
Cognitive distraction happens when you’ve got so much going on in your mind that you drift off from the task at hand (driving). Loss of focus can come from listening to passenger gossips, talking on your phone, or just daydreaming.
It can have devastating consequences, especially when approaching car hoots to get your attention, and you begin swerving to avoid traffic. When you lose control, your car might roll off the road.
Manual Distraction
This is when you take both your hands off the steering wheel, perhaps to hold that snack, phone, adjust the radio or fix your hair, etc. When driving, you should always maintain full control over the wheel, keep your eyes on the road, and focus on the driving. Phones are especially dangerous because they result in all three types of distraction. Picking the phone results in manual distraction, scrolling needs you to take your eyes off the road, and processing info on the phone means you are not focused on driving anymore.
The impact of distracted driving
As mentioned earlier, distracted driving is a big-time safety concern. According to data from NHTSA, distracted driving results in about 8 deaths every day in the U.S.A.
In 2018 alone, 2800 people died as a result of the negligent actions of a distracted driver. 400,000 others were left with serious injuries. The report continues that 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes that year was not in cars; they were outside the vehicles walking or on their bikes.
Those at risk of distracted driving include:
Teens and young adult drivers are likely to drive distracted. The 2018 NHTSA report indicates 25 % of distracted driving-related crashes were by drivers aged 20 to 29. Those aged 15 to 19 were even more likely to have caused crashes in which someone died.
Another data from the CDC’s system for monitoring youth behavior, texting while driving accounted for most distracting driving-related auto accidents. The report also indicates that students are the most likely to text while driving.
Clearly, distracted driving is a major safety concern. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, but when you drive while distracted, you are likely to cause injuries to your passengers and people outside the car. The accident will also likely result in damages to your car, requiring a big-time repair job.
Get help from an experienced personal injury attorney
If you get in an accident due to a distracted driver’s careless actions, it is possible to sue them for compensation. You are not without legal options. A personal injury attorney can access the situation and inform you on the way forward.
For further details on distracted driving-related injuries, contact Stambaugh Law attorneys. We are always working hard to ensure your rights are protected. Speak with us today to find out how we can help!
