When you’re driving your car, you need to be as focused on the road as you can be. You know that distractions can be dangerous, and they could put you or others in harm’s way.
Most of the time, people think of distractions as things like using a cell phone or texting someone, but there are many other kinds of distractions as well. While a single distraction might not be extremely dangerous, several can add up and make it dangerous for you to be behind the wheel.
Distractions add up
Distractions come in three forms. You have distractions that take your eyes off the road and what you’re doing. You have some that take your hands away from the wheel. You have others that make you think about other things. These three kinds of distractions are most dangerous when combined, though they are still dangerous individually.
For example, if you take your hands off the wheel to pick up a drink, that’s a manual distraction. Then, if the drink tastes strange, that might cause a mental distraction. As you try to put it down or look inside to see what the issue is, it could be a visual distraction. Together, these movements could all put you at risk of a serious crash.
Adding another driving distraction, like turning on your radio and listening to a program that is upsetting, could distract you further. Then, if someone sings along badly, for example, you could be distracted by that noise, too.
Knowing that distractions create a hazard is the first step toward safer driving
Be aware that distractions create hazards, so you can be a safer driver. Taking the time to get to know what distractions are present and how they could affect you is essential.
If you end up in a crash with someone who was distracted by music, changing a radio station, using their phone, talking to passengers, eating a meal on the way to work, or other distractions, you may be able to make a claim against them and seek fair compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered as a result of their actions.
