All drivers on the roads should ensure that they’re safely operating their vehicles. This means that they should avoid distractions. While some drivers might think that they can multitask when they drive, this is never a good idea. Trying to do more than just focus on the road can result in a deadly crash. Even if nobody dies, catastrophic injuries are possible.
There are many different distractions that drivers must contend with every day. These range from a cellphone to billboards. Some drivers even try to eat or drink while they’re driving.
Three types of distractions
There are three types of distractions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All distractions that drivers face fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Manual distractions are the ones that force the driver to take their hands off the wheel.
- Visual distractions require the driver to stop looking at the road.
- Cognitive distractions take the driver’s thoughts and focus off the road.
The issue with these distractions is that they can prevent the driver from seeing hazards that they need to address on the road. A driver who’s distracted for only five seconds, which is the average time it takes to read or reply to a text, can drive the length of a football field if they’re going 55 miles per hour.
Anyone who a distracted driver collides with is at risk of serious injuries. These can require medical care and may force the person to take off work. Those victims might opt to pursue a claim for compensation to help offset the financial impact that the crash has on them.