Some drivers mistakenly believe they can multitask while they drive. This is often the case for individuals who have been driving for many years and have gotten overly confident in their ability to drive.
Even experienced drivers must remember that distractions while operating a vehicle can lead to catastrophic crashes. It’s critical that all drivers remember that they should give their attention solely to driving when they’re in the vehicle. Drivers who allow distractions to claim their attention cause around 3,000 deaths in this country each year. Each of those deaths was preventable.
Not all distractions are visual
People tend to think about distractions as being only visual, but that’s only one type of distraction that drivers can face. Manual and cognitive are the others.
Visual distractions require the driver to take their eyes off the road. This can include things like looking at a navigation device to see where they’re going.
Manual distractions make the driver take their hands off the steering wheel. Reaching over to grab a fry to eat is a manual distraction.
Cognitive distractions make the driver think about something other than driving. Thinking about problems at work or home is a cognitive distraction because that takes the driver’s mind off driving.
Some distractions that occur encompass more than one type of distraction. Responding to a text is an example. The driver has to look at their phone, which is a visual distraction. They have to use their fingers to type the reply, which is a manual distraction. They have to think about how to respond to the text, which is a cognitive distraction.
Even the safest drivers can be struck by other drivers who are distracted. This can lead to catastrophic injuries. These crashes could all be prevented if the driver had just paid attention to their driving duties. The victims of these wrecks may opt to pursue a compensation claim to help them get the expenses related to the crash taken care of. These cases can be complex, so it may be best for them to work with someone familiar with these matters.