You’d be shocked at how many accidents occur around the world solely due to distracted driving. Many people don’t even realize what they’re doing wrong. One little glimpse on the cellphone screen is all it takes to end a life. Using a cell phone, eating, drinking, smoking, taking the hand off the wheel, feeling drowsy, etc. are some common examples of distracted driving. However, there is more to distracted driving than these examples.
So, today we will go through some examples of distracted driving so that you know what to avoid while you are driving.
If you have a new car then there are some new car driving tips for you.
Types Of Distracted Driving
There are three different types of distracted driving. But before we jump into examples, let’s take a look at those types to understand them better.
Visual Distraction
Visual distraction refers to when you take your eyes off the road. It can be caused by anything. For instance, if you’re using your cell phone while driving, it can be one type of visual distraction.
Manual Distraction
Manual distraction occurs when you take your hands off the wheel. This is one of the primary reasons that initiate an accident. One example of manual distraction is putting on makeup while driving. This requires you to take your hands off the while, causing a manual distraction.
Cognitive Distraction
One of the most dangerous forms of distraction is cognitive distraction. It means taking your mind off driving. Your eyes may be on the road, and your hands are on the wheel, but if you’re daydreaming, an accident might happen soon.
5 Distracted Driving Examples
Now that you know the types of distracted driving let’s get to the examples. The following are the most common reasons for accidents happening all around the world due to distracted driving. You can see here a statistics.
1. Cell Phone
One problem that has been difficult to control is using a cell phone while driving. The number of drivers using cell phones while they’re on the wheel is not decreasing at any rate. A large percentage of accidents happening worldwide are initiated by using a cell phone while driving.
Most states prohibit texting while driving and have enforced laws against it. However, the problem continues to exist. If you ask any random person, they’ll tell you that one should not text or use a cell phone while driving. So, why is it that so many people are continuously breaking the law and doing something they consider to be wrong?
The first thing is that everyone is biased about themselves. They believe that they can multitask without any disastrous situation. In most cases, they’re wrong. Multiple studies have shown that most people aren’t good at multitasking.
Even if someone is comparatively faster when sending a text, this doesn’t reduce the risk in any way. When you’re going 50 miles per hour on the highway, a few seconds is all it takes to distract you and cause an accident.
Another reason people can’t stay without cell phones while driving is the necessity of being connected to others. These reasons have driven people to introduce something called hands-free calling and texting.
That would have been a great idea if using a cell phone was a visual or manual distraction. Unfortunately, cellphone works as a cognitive distraction too. So, whether you’re using your hands to use your phone or not, the task is equally dangerous.
2. Taking Off Your Hand From The Wheel
This can be caused by a lot of things. One example is grooming. When you’re fixing your beard or applying makeup, you need to take your hands off the wheel. Some other examples of this manual distracted driving are eating, drinking, and smoking in the car.
Drinking alone can result in poorer lane control, according to a study. And that’s non-alcoholic beverages we are talking about. The same goes for smoking. A source confirms that 1% of distracted driving accidents are caused by smoking.
Sometimes, you need to take one hand off the wheel. For instance, when you’re driving manually, you need to shift gears. You may have to remove hair from your face or something that’s unavoidable.
Even then, you should plan in advance and do so when the situation allows you. Remember that a great driver never uses one hand to drive their vehicle. To ensure safety, you have to be hundred percent present to avoid manual distraction.
3. Passengers
Another primary source of distraction is passengers in the car. Whether you’re driving with friends or family, they can become an element of distraction. So, make sure that they’re aware of what should be done on the road before you ride with them.
Sometimes it may not be possible. For instance, if you’re a parent, telling your kids not to distract you while driving might be more challenging than it sounds. In these situations, make sure that your kids have everything they need before starting the journey.
If it’s an emergency that you need to attend to, pull over before doing so. The same goes for when you’re driving with a pet in your car. It’s a good idea to stop frequently if you are going for a long drive with your children or pets.
Make sure your kids understand the importance of safe driving when they are of age. Teach them to behave themselves and not cause any distractions while an adult is driving.
As for newborns, make frequent stops to tend to them and make sure they’re provided with everything required. If it’s possible, drive with another adult to take care of the baby.
4. Daydreaming
One of the most common reasons for distracted driving is daydreaming. When people are bored of driving, their thoughts often wander around, and they don’t even realize it. It’s essential to keep your mind on driving along with your hands and eyes.
Daydreaming can also lead to using one’s cell phone, increasing the risk of getting into an accident. When the roads are long, and you need to keep driving, it can be tempting to check the phone to reduce boredom. However, as we have discussed before, it’s never a good idea.
There are a few preventive steps you can take to prevent this from happening. For instance, if you are scheduled for a long drive the next day, make sure you’re well rested, which has been proven to increase attention in drivers.
5. Drowsiness
Another significant example of distracted driving is drowsiness. Many drivers have reported getting sleepy while they drive. It reduces the efficiency of driving and can lead to disastrous situations even though people don’t perceive this to be a danger to driving.
Not getting enough sleep regularly, lack of a proper diet, and dehydration can cause drowsiness. So, if you want to stay attentive while driving, make sure to stay healthy. Drink an adequate amount of water and keep yourself hydrated. You can also consume coffee if that helps you reduce drowsiness while driving.
Some medications can also be responsible for making you drowsy. If you’re aware that you take such medicines, make sure to avoid them before driving.
Tips To Avoid Distracted Driving On The Road
The safety of your life and the people riding with you rests on your hand when you drive. So, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you drive safely and avoid distractions. Let’s take a look at a few points to see what you can do to be safe.
- Keep your cell phone in driving mode. Do not text or call while driving, even if it’s hand-free communication.
- Keep everything you need near at hand. Avoid reaching out for anything while driving to avoid distraction.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke while driving. If you need to, stop the car and get a proper meal.
- If you’re driving with children or pets and you need to attend to them, pull over before doing so.
- Rest well before driving. Make sure to get enough sleep.
- Avoid taking any medicine that may make you feel sleepy before driving.
- Do not drive after consuming alcohol.
- If you are going on a long trip, plan ahead. Make frequent stops. Avoid sitting for too long and move around when you stop.
- In case you get tired after driving for long, take a stop and start fresh when you’re ready.
- Get yourself ready before going somewhere. This way, you won’t have to groom yourself in the car.
- Make sure to familiarize yourself with the road laws if you’re driving in a new city or country.
- Always check your vehicle’s condition before going for a drive. If something needs to be fixed, don’t wait till it gets in a worse condition.
Final Words
As you can sum up from the article, there are numerous distracted driving examples. But, you shouldn’t be involved in one. So, make sure you’re ready to maintain the mandatory rules for driving safely. Always remember that a good driver is never a reckless one.
Above all, when a small distraction can be a matter of life and death, no one should take any chances. So, keep that cell phone away no matter how tempting that may be, drive attentively, and keep your hands on the wheel.
