Distracted driving causes serious car accidents every day. People suffer major injuries and even pass away in these accidents. Authorities have tried to counter it in many ways, but the problem is that there are a lot of various distractions – using a cellphone, changing the radio station, interacting with children, looking at a map or a GPS, etc.
But for all of these more specific examples of distracted driving, you can also find categories in which they fit. In some ways, it’s easier to understand the problem with distracted driving by looking at these categories, as they are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Distractions can be separate or combined
The following are the three main categories for these distractions, and they may occur independently. But there are also situations in which drivers will face more than one type of distraction at once.
- Manual distractions: These are distractions that mean someone is using their hands for a task other than driving the vehicle, such as holding a cellphone or reaching behind them to give snacks or drinks to their children.
- Visual distractions: These are distractions that mean the driver is looking away from the road, such as if they are looking at their GPS or looking down to pick up something they have dropped.
- Cognitive distractions: These are mental distractions that mean a person isn’t focused on driving safely. Examples include talking to passengers or listening to music.
As noted, multiple distractions can happen at once, drastically increasing the odds that the driver will cause a car accident. Those who have suffered serious injuries in these accidents need to be well aware of their options to seek financial compensation.