When driving, it’s important to keep your focus on the road ahead. However, there are driving distractions which can grab your focus instead. These three types of distractions can be quite dangerous. Therefore, it’s important to know what they are, and how you can avoid them…
Driving Distractions: Common Causes
Mental
The first type of driving distractions are mental ones. These are distractions which take your mind off of driving. Instead of paying attention to the road, you’re more caught up with your own thoughts or something along these lines. By the time you snap out of it, it could be too late to avoid an accident.
Some common examples of this distraction are talking to passengers in the car, or being hung up on personal or work-related issues while driving. Even loud music can be a mental distraction, as every second you spend focusing on a song is one you aren’t focusing on the road.
Visual
The next kind of driving distractions are visual ones. These distractions involve a driver taking their eyes away from the road and onto something else. For instance, flashy advertisements on the road could be considered visual distractions. Even just glancing over at them can put you at risk.
Still, visual distractions can also come from inside the car. While it’s good to check if everyone is wearing their seat belts, doing so while driving can be a distraction. So can using some kind of electronic device, like a GPS, or a DVD player for passengers.
Physical
The final type of driving distractions are physical ones. A physical distraction is when the driver takes one or both of their hands off of the steering wheel. This could be because they’re trying to eat while driving. Or, it could be due to them trying to get something out of a purse or wallet.
The issue with these driving distractions is how usually two or more will occur at a time. Texting and driving is perhaps the most dangerous example of this. Using your phone takes your focus, eyes, and hands away from driving and puts them on your phone, creating a very dangerous situation.