Distracted driving has been normalized in recent years. Still, it is a dangerous activity that can cause injuries and even death. Below, we will dive deep into 3 common distracted driver behaviors so you can avoid them in the future.
What is considered a distraction?
Driving demands your eyes, hands and mind. When any one of those three drops away, risk shoots up. Distractions delay your reaction time. A split-second pause can be the difference between a near miss and a rollover. With that in mind, let us break down the three most common behaviors that create chaos on California streets.
The big three
Below is a short list of driver habits responsible for a large share of injury crashes. Each combines at least two forms of distraction and is entirely preventable:
- Phone fixation – Texting, scrolling through social media, changing the music, dialing a number or looking up an address make one or both hands get away from the steering wheel and distract your mind from traffic.
- Car-side cafeteria – Fast-food wrappers on the console usually mean a driver is steering with one hand and paying more attention to spicy sauce than brake lights. Spilled coffee can make the situation worse when a startled driver jerks the wheel or slams the brake.
- Back-seat boardroom – Animated conversations with passengers, reaching for a toddler’s dropped toy or fiddling with the audio and climate controls diverts focus inside the cabin instead of outside where it belongs. Even glancing at the touchscreen for a new playlist steals vital seconds.
Together these actions cause thousands of avoidable wrecks each year. As a driver, you might believe that multitasking saves time, but the reality is that it endangers everyone sharing the lane. To prevent auto accidents, avoid these activities. Also, if you spot a distracted driver, keep a safe distance and if you ride with one, speak up.
Every crash caused by distraction shares one truth: it did not need to happen. By choosing to stay alert, stowing the phone and finishing breakfast at the table instead of behind the wheel, we can cut the casualty numbers and spare thousands of families from sudden loss.