Distracted drivers can cause crashes that injure or kill innocent people — and these kinds of wrecks are almost always preventable.
Many people associate distracted driving with cellphone usage. While that’s a major source of problems in modern times, there are many other things that can distract drivers.
What are the three categories of distractions drivers face?
There are three distinct categories of distractions that impact a person’s ability to drive safely.
- Visual distractions make you take your eyes off the road
- Cognitive distractions take your thoughts off the road
- Manual distractions involve you taking your hands off the steering wheel
When you consider those categories, you can see that many things fall into more than one. Talking to passengers in your vehicle is a cognitive distraction. If you turn your head to look at someone while you talk, it adds a visual distraction.
Some possible distractions in a vehicle include:
- Looking at billboards
- Eating or drinking
- Changing the radio, climate control, or GPS
- Grooming, including putting on makeup or shaving
- Talking with friends
- Engaging with children in the back seat
- Reaching for lost objects
Any of these are possible — even if a cellular phone isn’t in use.
When you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, what can you do?
Even drivers who are careful may fall victim to a distracted driver. Seeking medical care after the crash is imperative. If you suffer monetary damages or other damages, you have every reason to pursue a claim for compensation to hold the distracted driver accountable.