The majority of people relate distracted driving with someone texting or surfing social media on a mobile. But there are other ways for drivers to become distracted while driving a vehicle that is not as risky as texting and driving.
The most common distracted driving behaviors that seriously endanger other road users are covered in the section below. If you are involved in an accident with a motorist being distracted, contact a Las Vegas car accident lawyer.
Types of distracted driving that are considered dangerous
Distractions can be classified into three groups. While some acts could fall into a couple of categories, some may only fit into one.
1. Cognitive Distractions
A cognitive diversion occurs when your brain is not entirely focused on one particular task. This could indicate that someone driving is not paying attention to their surroundings even though their hands remain at the wheel and their eyes are on the road.
It is not sufficient for drivers to focus only on the road in front of their cars. Cognitively aware drivers should also be aware of how other drivers are responding to their manner of driving. For example, if he or she gets passed by cars on the right, it can be because they are driving too slowly in the road lane.
2. Visual Distractions
Since a driver’s eyes are off the road, visual problems can be the most harmful kind of distraction. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claims that driving the length of a soccer field with your eyes closed is the same as taking five seconds off the road at 55 mph.
A driver’s focus may be diverted from the road by things like looking at roadside diversions or watching children in the rear seat. Driving in rush hour can be very dangerous as it raises the chances that vehicles will have to brake more often as a result of the slowdown in traffic.
3. Manual distractions
A driver engages in manual distraction while they take their hands off the wheel. Driving with just one hand on the steering wheel can still pose a risk, even if there is no legal requirement for drivers to do so.
4. Overall distractions
Specific actions that fall under any of the three categories of distracted driving can be done by drivers. This includes the following kinds of items:
- Self-grooming
- Drinking
- Eating
- Adjusting a GPS
Distracted driving occurs when a driver fails to focus on anything other than the road, even if they are just using their hands, eyes, or thinking.