Driving Distractions: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

15% of all police-reported car accidents on the roads in the US are attributed to distracted drivers. 

If you’re like most drivers, you’re guilty of doing something that takes away your focus from driving. As experienced drivers, it’s not uncommon to believe that you can avoid those driving distractions without consequence. 

The reality is quite different. Distracted driving is dangerous for you, the people in your car, and the cars around you. 

You might not even be fully aware of how often your attention drifts from the road as you’re behind the wheel. Read on to learn more about distracted driving and the ways you can help yourself stay focused on the road. 

The Real Impact of Distracted Driving

Any driver can claim their unfocused driving habits won’t cause an accident or hurt someone. The statistics connected to distracted driving tell a different story. 

In 2019, approximately 424,000 injuries and 3,142 fatalities occurred because of distracted driving. 

It seems cell phones in the car are a real culprit for distracted related driving. For example:

• Nine people die daily in accidents related to distracted driving
• A teenager looking down to dial a phone number increases their crash risk to one in six
• Right before a car crash, one in every four drivers admits to talking on their cell phone
• 62% of drivers who were involved in a fatal crash admitted to being lost in thought or having their mind wandering to something beyond driving
• 20% of drivers admit to fixing or styling their hair in the car mirror while driving

In the category of super distracted, 80% of drivers admit they’ve steered their car with a foot, painted their nails, shaved their faces, or changed their clothes while driving. 

For parents, it seems their children in the car add a whole other level of distractions. During a 16-minute trip, the average parent had their eyes off the road for three minutes and 22 seconds. 

Statistics suggest that riding in the car with kids can account for distractions 12 times more than talking on a cell phone.

Common Driving Distractions

Of course, you know that texting or changing the radio station can account for distracted driving accidents. There are likely things you do in the car while driving that you might realize how much impact your ability to focus while driving. 

For example, every fast food joint has a drive-through window to grab a burger and drink for the road. Yet, simply holding the burger and a napkin means you have a hand off the wheel, and you’re wondering if you just dripped ketchup on your shirt instead of whether the light up ahead is about to turn red. 

Eating and drinking both account for big distractions while driving. You’re trying to remove your coffee cup from the cup holder without spilling. Maybe toppings from that burger are sliding out, and you’re trying to catch them. 

Have you ever been at a stop light and looked over to see someone applying makeup using their visor mirror? What happens when the light turns green, and the driver keeps applying that mascara?

Most drivers can admit to driving while sleepy, or worse, the driving making them feel drowsy. 60% of Americans admit to driving while drowsy; even more terrifyingly, 25% have nodded off while behind the wheel. 

Another common distraction that can cause an accident is the urge to slow down and look at another accident in progress. This rubbernecking means your eyes are off the road at a place where cars are already starting and stopping through an accident scene. 

You already know what a distraction your kids can be in everyday life. But the distraction level is multiplied when they and your pets are in the car. They drop something, they argue, and they ask question after question after question.

Types of Driving Distractions

We’ve looked at some of the many ways drivers might be distracted anecdotally. The better a driver understands distracted driving and how it could occur, the more they can avoid those scenarios. Let’s take a closer look at the specific types of driving distractions.

Visual Distractions

One kind of distracted driving involves visual distractions. These are the types of distractions that have a driver taking their eyes off the road. 

So, if the driver looks in the mirror, turns to talk to their children, or looks down at a cell phone, they have participated in a visual distraction. 

Reading a text message or sending one can mean your eyes are off the road for five seconds, the equivalent of driving at 55 mph with your eyes closed for an entire football field.

An accident can occur when you aren’t looking at the road for mere seconds. Even a brief look away from the road statistically dramatically increases the risk of an accident. 

Manual Distractions

Most people are surprised by this type of distraction: manual distractions. A manual distraction occurs when the driver takes their hands off the wheel for another purpose. 

The driver might be reaching across the seat to grab a cell phone. They might fiddle with the radio or GPS. The driver might be holding food. 

If a car is driving at a high rate of speed or is in heavy traffic, having hands off the wheel for even a second can spell disaster. 

Some states have even implemented hands-free laws regarding cell phones, so drivers aren’t holding a cellular device in one hand while their vehicle is moving. 

Cognitive Distractions

Another form of distracted driving is cognitive. In this form, it’s not your eyes or hands not engaged in driving; instead, your head isn’t entirely focused on the driving. 

When a driver is not mentally present in their driving, something can arise that they can’t react quickly enough to because they aren’t paying attention. 

One of the struggles with cognitive distractions is that they can be hard to detect and find a solution. The driver needs to recognize their lack of focus and return to being present. 

Auditory Distractions

Many drivers suggest that listening to music, a podcast, or an audiobook helps them focus on driving. Auditory distractions are another form of distracted driving.

You might start with background noise from an auditory source. But then, get so involved in the listening that it becomes a distraction. Likewise, when you listen to loud music, you take your mind off driving and focus on the music. 

Loud sounds in your car also create an issue because you can’t hear the sounds from outside, like emergency vehicles.

Combined Threat

A combined threat of distracted driving means that more than one type of distraction occurs. So, you might have a visual distraction with your eyes off the road while your hands grab something in the car, which is a manual distraction. 

The more types of distractions occur, the more risk you face for an accident to happen. With every kind of distraction in place for a driver, the risk increases because their reaction time is reduced. 

Who’s Most at Risk for Driving Distracted?

The reality is that any driver who practices distracted driving behavior is at risk. You’re at risk if you talk on your phone or answer text messages, no matter how experienced of a driver you are. 

The statistics, however, show that the younger the driver, the higher the risk for distracted driving. They have a double whammy against them. 

First, they do more behaviors related to distracted driving. They also don’t have the best reaction time while driving because of their reduced experience level. 

Limited Distractions While Driving

Once drivers know the huge risk of driving distractions, it can help them be more mindful. The goal is that drivers make more conscious decisions to avoid those distractions and be safer out on the road. 

Here are some ways you can work to eliminate distractions while driving. 

Hands-on the Wheel

It’s critical for drivers to simply keep their hands on the wheel when driving. Experts say that you can only safely remove your hands from the wheel for as little as two seconds.

What can you accomplish in two seconds without creating a driving distraction? 

If you drive with your cell phone next to you, it’s important to silence your phone so you’re not reaching for it at every ding. Then not only are your hands off the wheel, but your eyes are, too. 

Instead, to be the safest, switch your phone to  “Do Not Disturb” mode so you won’t be tempted to pick up the phone while driving. 

No Texting

48 states have some form of law involving texting and driving. Yet, if you drive down the road, you can easily witness how many people disregard the warnings and dangers involved with texting and driving. 

An estimated 3,000 people die each year from texting and driving. 

Most people understand the dangers of alcohol and driving. Sending a text while driving can be the same as getting behind the wheel after drinking four large beers in just one hour. 

Focus on Driving

Life is messy and busy and if you’re like most people, you’re thinking about your job, your day, and your kids, and driving is secondary. 

To be the safest driver, it’s critical to attempt to clear your mind before you get behind the wheel of the car. 

Keep your focus and your thoughts on driving instead of those other thoughts. 

Once you’re aware of the dangers of cognitive distractions, as a driver, you need to clear your head before you get behind the wheel of the car. 

Eyes on the Road

It can be shocking to drive down a highway and see the number of people with a computer open or a video running while they’re driving. 

Accidents happen in a split second. You never know when a car in front of you will stop suddenly or another car will swerve. You can’t react appropriately if you don’t see it coming. 

Other Suggestions

If you have young drivers whom you’re responsible for, it’s important to discuss the risks associated with distracted driving regularly. 

Model the kinds of behaviors you expect from them, including no phone use in the car. No food or drinks while driving. 

Remember, drivers need regular breaks to avoid driving while drowsy. 

Consequences of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can have a significant impact on your life. If you cause an accident, you’ll be held responsible for damages. If you injure or kill someone, you’ll need to live with it for the rest of your life, while also facing the legal ramifications. 

If you cause an accident, including injuring someone, expect to face the consequences that are part of the law in your state. Your insurance rates will skyrocket, too.

Getting Legal Help

The statistics are clear: distracted driving is dangerous and causes thousands of accidents every year. There are so many ways that distractions can occur, it’s important to be aware and stop yourself from those associated behaviors. 

The real problem is that other drivers need to stop driving distracted, too. If you’re the victim of an accident because of another driver’s distracted driving, you need legal help. 

You deserve compensation for the accident. It’s important to talk to an experienced accident attorney to make sure your rights are protected. 

Avoid Driving Distractions and the Consequences That Come With Them

Driving distractions are so prevalent out on the road. As drivers, you see other drivers who are driving distracted all the time. 

Make yourself aware of the serious dangers of driving distracted as a reminder to focus on driving and nothing else. 

If you’ve been the victim of a car accident as a result of distracted driving, we can help. Contact Sweet Lawyers to discuss how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.