FOUR TYPES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING

When most people think of distracted driving, they think of people using cell phones or texting while driving. However, there are many activities that people don’t think twice about doing in the car that can be distracting.

Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. These distractions can include eating, talking to passengers, electronic device use and even grooming. In 2012, 421,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents.

Eating in the car

Drivers who eat behind the wheel are seriously limiting their ability to respond to an accident. Just reaching for an object while driving makes a driver 8 times more likely to crash, while eating makes drivers 3 times more likely to crash.

Talking to Passengers

The most distracting passengers are often children and pets. In a recent study conducted by AAA, it was found that dealing with children in a vehicle was 12 times more distracting than talking on a cell phone.

It is estimated that 10% of distracted driving accidents are related to passenger distractions. Drivers need to be aware of how distracting other people can be in the vehicle and remember to keep their eyes on the road.

Electronic Device Use

Cell phones are the biggest contributors when it comes to distracted driving accidents. In a study done by Autobytel, 1 in 3 people who had been in an accident reported the cause was related to an electronic device

Electronic navigation systems are a cause of many distracted driving accidents. Users who are attempting to program their GPS while driving stand the same chance of getting into an accident as those who text and drive.

Grooming

It might only take a few seconds to brush your hair or put on lipstick, but it takes even less time to get into an accident. In a recent survey, 1 in 5 adults admitted to having done some type of grooming while behind the wheel, whether that was brushing their hair, putting on lipstick or even shaving.

Drivers who take their eyes off the road for only a few seconds while doing 55 miles an hours travel a distance equivalent to the length of a football field blindfolded. When it comes to driving, there is no acceptable amount of time for drivers to take their eyes off the road.

In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving accidents. The number might actually be much higher, as most drivers won’t report that a distraction caused the accident. In some studies, it has been estimated that 80% of all traffic accidents are related to some kind of distraction.

In 2012, there were 2,255 fatal crashes in Florida, and distracted driving was a contributing factor in many of them. People who are injured by distracted drivers may be entitled to seek compensation and certainly should understand their legal options.

The only thing a driver should be doing behind the wheel is driving. Every driver on the road has a responsibility to keep his or her attention on the road. Distracted driving causes senseless accidents that could easily be prevented with a little bit of common sense. Distracted drivers who cause accidents should be held accountable.