Drivers must be prepared to quickly react to changes in their environment. But, it’s difficult to react to a light changing from green to red or a pedestrian walking into the street if you’re not focused on the road. When a driver is too distracted to process and react to these changes, tragic accidents occur. Here’s a look at some of the most common driver distractions:
Cell Phones
It’s hard for some people to pull themselves away from their smartphones for long, which is why so many drivers end up using these devices behind the wheel. Distracted driving accidents often occur when drivers use their cell phones to text, talk on the phone, look at social media, play games, or watch videos.
Smartphones are one of the most dangerous distractions because they distract the driver visually, manually, and cognitively. Most distractions only fall into one of these categories, but a smartphone falls into all three.
Zoning Out
Drivers often get distracted by their own thoughts. When a driver starts to zone out, he takes his attention off of the road. A driver who is zoned out may appear to be paying attention since his eyes are still focused on the road, however his mind has wandered off.
Drivers who are traveling long distances tend to zone out more than drivers who are not going very far. Being stressed or fatigued can also cause a driver’s mind to start to drift off of the road.
Passengers
It’s nice to have other people in the car for entertainment and companionship, but sometimes passengers do more harm than good. Talking to passengers in the car can be distracting for drivers—especially teen drivers. In fact, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention reports that teen drivers are at a higher risk of getting into an accident when there are other passengers in the car.
Reaching For Something
A driver that is alone in his vehicle may realize that something he needs is in the backseat or just out of his reach in the passenger seat. Instead of pulling off of the road, the driver may try to reach for the object even if it means taking his eyes off of the road for a moment. Drivers that reach for something may not be able to slam on the brakes or swerve out of the way in time to avoid an accident.
Have you been injured in a distracted driving accident? If so, contact Reisch Law Firm right away. Our personal injury attorneys will aggressively negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to recover the compensation you deserve.. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
