The Most Common Causes of Driving Distractions
Driving Distractions are anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving. There could be some serious consequences because of this distractions. There are some common reasons behind this.
Talking and texting: People who use their cell phones to talk or text while driving are by far the most common reason for distracted driving accidents. In fact, the National Safety Council estimates that 26% of all car crashes involve cell phones.
GPS: We’ve become dependent on GPS to get us from point A to point B while driving. For many, using it doesn’t even seem like a choice anymore – it’s just what you do. But setting up a GPS route while driving is just as dangerous as texting. And even simply taking your attention from the road to glance down at the directions can lead to disaster. If you are going to use GPS, make sure it is mounted where you can easily see it… then turn up the volume anyway so that you can listen to the directions instead of having to constantly look at the screen.
Adjusting music or controls: Maybe you’re dying and you need to adjust the temperature. Or your child is yelling at you from the back seat to put on his music. Or the radio is just too darn loud. It may seem like a small thing to push a button or two, but it divides your attention – especially if you have to look away to do it.
Applying makeup: Sometimes you just don’t have time to look your best before you have to jump in the car. Unfortunately, many people seem to have decided that driving provides an opportunity to put on those finishing touches such as adding lipstick, combing their hair, or even using deodorant. Not surprisingly, these activities – which take your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road – can easily lead to accidents.
Talking to passengers: If you have someone riding with you in the car, it’s only natural to talk to them. In fact, you probably feel kind of rude if you don’t. But you always have to remember that the paying attention to the road comes first. Turning to look at a passenger may feel like the right thing to do in the conversation, but it’s one of the worst things you can do while driving.
Handling children or pets: It’s not safe – for you or them – to drive with your pet loose in the vehicle, but that doesn’t stop quite a few people from doing it. Sadly, when pets move around your car or sit in your lap, they become distractions. And as all parents know, having children in a car can be at least as bad. They yell to get your attention. They complain that they need things. They fight. It’s all too easy to have your attention pulled from the road.
Zoning out: Have you ever daydreamed on a long commute or while driving a familiar route? It’s pretty common. Driving on “autopilot” happens too much, and it can be very dangerous.
NCSL’s Power BI Distracted Driving charts provide a detailed overview of current laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia:
Hand-held cell phone use ban: 24 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving.
All cell phone ban: No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers, but 36 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice or teen drivers, and 18 states and D.C. prohibit any cell phone use for school bus drivers.
Text messaging ban: 48 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers.
Missouri prohibits text messaging by drivers 21 years old or younger.
The laws are very strict and can fine you thousands depending on your actions. You should drive safe to save lives not only yours. While you are at road it means saving others life is your responsibility too.
