Many different things can distract a driver. Yet have you ever thought about how distraction works?
Everything that takes a driver’s attention from the road can potentially distract the driver in up to three ways. These include:
1. Physical distractions
Typically this involves your hands. They are meant to be kept on the steering wheel as much as possible. Anything that requires you to use your hands for something else is, therefore an issue. Steering one-handed is never as effective as doing so with both hands, and sometimes that extra percentage efficiency can mean the difference between crashing and not crashing.
2. Visual distractions
Blind people are not allowed to drive cars because being able to see is critical to safe driving. Yet some people with great eyesight do not even try to look at the road. They allow their vision to wander elsewhere, often for a few seconds at a time. A lot can happen in that time, and you can travel a long way. You cannot avoid hazards if you do not know they are there, and if you are not looking, you won’t know they are.
3. Mental distractions
You need to give the road your attention. You can have both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, but if your mind is on that girl you dated last night or that upcoming conversation with your boss, you won’t be able to notice and process all that is going on around you.
All drivers get distracted at some point, but that does not make it excusable. If a distracted driver injures you, you’ll need to understand how to hold them responsible.