Most people have busy lives, and it is understandable for a person to want to be able to complete multiple tasks at once, especially when they are engaged in routine activities that do not seem to require their full attention. However, multitasking while driving is not just a bad idea, but it can have deadly results. Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous practices that a driver can engage in, and it is far too common on the roads in the United States. These unsafe behaviors lead to thousands of fatal car accidents every year, as well as tens of thousands of non-fatal injuries. Drivers, passengers, or others who are injured by distracted drivers will want to understand their options for pursuing financial compensation that will address the damages they have suffered.
The Most Dangerous Types of Distracted Driving
While distracted driving can come in many forms, distractions that affect drivers can generally be grouped into three categories:
- Visual distractions - These include any actions that cause a driver to look away from the road. This can cause a driver to miss important details, such as vehicles that are approaching an intersection, cars that have slowed down in front of them, pedestrians that are attempting to cross the road, or obstacles in a lane of traffic. Inability to notice these details may not allow a person enough time to respond and avoid colliding with a vehicle, pedestrian, or obstacle.
- Manual distractions - These include situations where a person takes their hands off the steering wheel or takes other actions that cause them to not be in full control of their car. In these cases, a person’s reaction time will increase, since they will need additional time to regain control of their vehicle before they can react to conditions on the road. Even a split-second delay can affect a person’s ability to avoid a collision.
- Cognitive distractions - Failure to fully pay attention to the road can affect a person’s ability to notice important details and respond correctly to changing conditions. Attention that is diverted to other tasks will result in a narrowed field of vision and longer reaction times.
While each of these types of distractions can be deadly on their own, actions that combine multiple types of distractions are especially dangerous. For example, eating and drinking while driving will often require a person to look away from the road and use their hands to hold food and beverages.
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