Everyone knows that driving requires concentration. But there are so many situations that can happen while driving which take your concentration away, even if just for a few moments. Getting distracted while driving can have some serious consequences, for you and for others. By losing focus on safe driving and putting your attention elsewhere instead, you are creating dangers for everyone around you.
Legalities
If you’re involved in a road accident caused by another driver getting distracted, you have the right to claim compensation. If you were injured, this compensation will be more. But if you were the driver that was distracted, you will have to face the legal consequences of your actions. If you find yourself in either of these situations, you need to get yourself an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible to give you advice and guidance on the steps to be taken next.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is anything that takes your focus away. There are three main elements to distracted driving: visual, motor and cognitive. Visual distractions are anything that takes your eyes off the road. This could be your mobile phone, you may be trying to find something, or there might be a cute dog in a window. When you take your hands off the wheel, it becomes a motor distraction. Picking up your phone, changing the temperature or having a snack are all motor distractions. All of these things take your thoughts away from driving and mean you are thinking about something else. When your mind loses focus on driving, it is a cognitive distraction. If you are thinking about what happened in work today, how you’re going to have this awkward conversation when you get home or about the fact that you really need to use the restroom, you are cognitively distracted. Any distraction, no matter how small, can have severe consequences for multiple people.
Injury and Loss of Life
Although changing the temperature while driving may seem benign, simple and meaningless, this small distraction can have a massive impact. Every year, an unthinkable number of people are injured in car accidents. Some injuries may be minor, yet still painful and result in the sufferer being unable to work or take on daily tasks temporarily, whereas others are life changing. The effect of distracted driving is then not only felt by the sufferer, but also by friends, families and colleagues too. These people will also be severely affected by distracted driving when the motor vehicle accident results in someone losing their life. The number of people that are killed in road traffic accidents is even more shocking. Imagine not only having to deal with the fact that you were responsible for someone’s death, but now you also have to face all the legal proceedings that accompany this. Small actions, big consequences.
Getting distracted while driving is dangerous – not just for you, but for everyone else too. Be prepared: turn off your phone, sort out your music, set the temperature, eat before driving and take extra measures to help minimize the risks of distracted driving.
