When it comes to the most common distractions that any driver is likely to encounter, then we are rather talking about bad habits than mistakes. These bad habits are visual, cognitive, and manual.
As for the visual ones, this is when the driver stops looking at the road because their attention is focused on another person in the car, the GPS on the mobile screen, or, in the worst-case scenario, something in hand that needs to be examined.
The cognitive distractions, however, are mental as they address the driver’s lack of concentration because of being overly exhausted to the extent that their attention span is affected: the brain is over-strained and cannot perceive things properly. This is also sometimes caused by emotional distress.
The manual distractions, on the other hand, are related to the visual ones. The driver, in that case, has his hands busy with other things rather than the steering wheel itself. The most common items are drinks -it is even worse if the drinks are hot – food, mobile phone, or anything that prevents the driver from fully controlling the steering wheel.
The following list shows the most common causes of driving distractions and suggests some tips that a driver can follow in order to be able to avoid them.
Gadgets
Another common distraction is electronic gadgets. The lure of using these items when they are newly bought can be very distracting for any driver who feels the excitement and the intrigue to try them on the spot. It is this moment of adrenaline rush that tempts a driver to feel so confident of their driving skills that they compromise their safety absentmindedly. This is a very common cause of tragic car crashes.
In order to avoid accidents like this, prevention is better than cure. That is to say, a driver needs to tame this excitement by postponing the moment of discovery until a more appropriate time, where they have a clear mind and free hands.
Food and Drinks
This is an activity that involves the driver’s hands. This is very distracting as it takes the driver’s hands off the steering wheel, a very perilous and risky matter, as anything can happen at the very instant of leaving the steering wheel and focusing on other activities such as unwrapping a sandwich, and sometimes even handling a fork or spoon with one hand while keeping the other hand on the wheel. As much as this distraction can affect the physical control of the car, it also causes mental distraction. This is because the driver is focusing on something else other than the road in front of him.
Regardless of how confident the driver feels about his driving skills, this bad habit can lead easily to a drift-away from the main road; a matter that jeopardizes the safety and well-being of the driver and the passenger on board. As suggested by a Denver car accident lawyer, the worst car accidents are caused because of this very common distraction. Certainly, the best way to avoid this lethal distraction is to stop the car in a suitable spot on the road, finish the meal peacefully, enjoy it with a hot drink, then resume the journey.
Compromise with Safety Measures
The laid-back attitude of some people, represented in their compromise of important safety measures during a ride, is one of the major distractions. Here, both the driver and the passengers, alike, tend to forget very important rules that must be followed to guarantee their safety on board.
A typical case in point is when the driver takes calls – even while using the hand-free – that they know will involve some emotional agitation. This compromise with your morale while driving can lead to stressful moments that can so easily affect your attention while driving.
The compromise with the seatbelt is an issue that sets a potential danger that both the driver and the passengers can so easily avoid by properly securing their seatbelts before they start the ride.
Pets are another cause of distraction that compromise the safety of the car and the passengers on board. It is a must to securely put your pet/s in their carriers at the back of the car, making sure that they have their proper supply of water to avoid dehydration.
All in all, these are the most dangerous and common distractions that people are likely to experience if they are not cautious enough. Avoiding these distractions will inevitably decrease the possibility of accidents and will ensure safe car journeys.
