Drivers have to be able to give their full attention to their driving duties, but they don’t always do this. Some drivers think that they are experienced enough that they can multitask while they drive. Those individuals are misinformed because there is never enough experience to do anything other than drive.
Many people don’t realize that some common actions that they do while driving are distractions. A distraction is anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel or mind off driving.
Distractions are often complex
Actions don’t always fall neatly into just one category of distraction. Instead, many actions include all three. For example, a driver who is checking their cellphone has three different types of distraction:
- Visual distraction: The driver has to look at their cellphone
- Manual distraction: The driver has to tap the phone to check it
- Cognitive distraction: The driver has to think about what the phone says and how to respond
While cellphones are a common source of distraction, they aren’t the only one that drivers face. Common actions, such as changing the climate control, speaking to other occupants, reaching for an object or taking a bite of a burger, are also distractions.
Distracted drivers don’t only put themselves in danger. They also increase the risk that crashes involving other vehicles will occur. Those wrecks can lead to catastrophic injuries that require immediate medical attention, which can be costly. The victims of these crashes may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. Seeking assistance from someone familiar with these claims may be beneficial, particularly because they require swift action due to time limits set by law.