One of the top reasons for car accidents in the United States is driver distraction. When someone is not paying attention to the road, they could be experiencing one of the three forms of distraction noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Manual distractions, visual distractions or cognitive distractions.
Often, people think of texting and driving, which can fit into all three of these categories and is certainly one of the most common driving distractions. But it is also not the only one. It is crucial for drivers to understand that distraction can take many different forms.
Behaviors to avoid
To this end, below are ten examples of driving distractions that everyone should strive to avoid when they are on the road:
- Doing personal grooming
- Eating a meal
- Drinking a cup of coffee
- Programming a GPS device
- Talking to passengers or children
- Picking up items that have been dropped on the floor
- Looking for a new song or playlist
- Dealing with unrestrained pets in the car
- Rubbernecking at previous accidents
- Checking notifications from social media sites
Many people do not realize how common distractions are. For instance, there are those who would consider themselves safe drivers, but they buy a cup of coffee during their morning commute every single day. This type of distraction still increases the odds of a crash.
Seeking compensation
Have you suffered serious injuries in an accident that was caused by another distracted driver? If so, it is important for you to understand how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.