When someone gets behind the wheel, it is important for them to avoid clear distractions, such as texting and driving. A person should never use their cellphone while driving their car, because it takes their hand off of the wheel and their attention away from the road. This is one of the most common examples of distracted driving, and texting drivers cause car accidents every single day.
That being said, it is important to remember that distraction goes well beyond using a cellphone or sending a text message. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention point out that almost anything can be a distraction, as long as it interferes with a person’s ability to drive safely.
What are some examples?
Beyond texting, some potential examples of distracted driving include:
- Talking to passengers
- Talking to children or handing them toys, drinks and snacks
- Talking on the phone
- Reading a map
- Looking at a GPS
- Reading a billboard or a street sign
- Listening to music
- Singing along with the radio
- Adjusting the mirrors, the seat or the steering wheel
- Daydreaming or getting lost in thought
- Doing personal grooming on the way to work
- Drinking a cup of coffee
- Eating a meal from the drive-through
- Picking up something that fell on the floor
- Dealing with unrestrained pets
Drivers need to be very conscious of the fact that their focus should always be on operating their vehicle and paying attention to traffic around them. Anything that interferes with this can cause an accident, and those who suffer injuries must know what legal rights they have to seek compensation.