The phone is likely the most common driving distraction. Texting and driving, in particular, is a problem, but smartphones allow people to do much more than that. There are also many serious accidents caused by people taking pictures, looking for a song, checking social media and even reading email messages.
As dangerous as the phone is, however, don’t assume that it’s the only driving distraction that’s out there. There are many different things that you need to avoid if you want to stay safe on the road, and there are many distractions that increase the risks you face when they impact other drivers.
Daydreaming behind-the-wheel
For instance, many drivers find themselves daydreaming or becoming lost in thought. This often happens if they struggle to pay attention on a normal basis or if they consider the drive to be boring. They will allow their minds to drift, but this has been proven to lead to accidents. A driver who may pay far better attention on a road trip through unfamiliar areas may zone out while doing their daily commute.
Trying to eat or drink in the car
How often do people go to the drive-through, get their meal, and then start eating it as they drive? It happens all the time. Even if they’re not eating, a lot of commuters drink coffee on the way to work. Experts warn that all of this is very dangerous because it means that the driver can’t hold the wheel and that they’re thinking about eating, not driving safely.
Transporting your children
For parents, a major source of distraction is just having the kids in the car at any time. This may wane a bit as the kids get older, but young children are often constantly asking for favors, complaining about things they don’t like, dropping items that they want their parents to pick up and much more. Parents feel compelled to try to take care of their children while driving, but this may actually lead to a serious wreck.
Have you been injured?
You can avoid these distractions at every turn, but other drivers won’t. If one of them causes a crash and you suffer serious injuries, that’s when you need to know how to seek financial compensation.