Driving is a high-demand activity that requires people to pay close attention to their surroundings and respond as quickly as possible to changing circumstances. All it takes is a few seconds of delay for a situation to change and put someone at risk of a potentially deadly collision.
Unfortunately, distraction on the road makes it difficult for motorists to prioritize safety in traffic. Distracted driving has become one of the top causes of severe motor vehicle collisions in the United States.
Distracted driving is about more than mobile phones
One of the most persistent myths about distraction at the wheel is the inaccurate belief that only digital devices cause noteworthy distraction. Anything that takes someone’s hands off of the wheel, their focus off driving or their eyes off the road could constitute a serious distraction.
Common driving distractions include:
- Children and other passengers
- Hands-free phone calls
- Talk-to-text programs
- Car crashes on the shoulder
- Road construction
- Singing along to the radio
- Daydreaming
- Eating or drinking
- Grooming oneself
- Reaching for something in the backseat
Even built-in screens added to a vehicle by a manufacturer can prove to be a dangerous source of distraction. Much like using a mobile phone, any of these sources of distraction could be the underlying reason why someone causes a crash.
Those injured in a distracted driving collision may potentially have the right to file an insurance claim or even a civil lawsuit against the motorist who didn’t make safety their top priority on the road. Identifying and avoiding the leading causes of car crashes can help keep people a bit safer in traffic.
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