As you travel along the highway, other drivers can often become distracted by objects within their cars or outside.
Learning about how distraction influences accidents and serious injuries like spinal and brain trauma can help you as you navigate the roads.
Physical delay while reacting
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many people struggle to turn a vehicle safely or brake completely when using their hands for other activities. Lifting up utensils to eat or picking up phones can cause a person to swerve out of their lane or crash into another vehicle.
Even if these drivers notice an approaching car, the time it takes to safely take control of the vehicle again is often too short to prevent an accident.
Dealing with an unfocused mind
When a driver’s mind wanders, whether from a conversation with a passenger or just because of other thoughts, it can leave them at risk for a crash. They may sideswipe an unsuspecting car or fail to stop at a red light.
The mental concentration needed to drive safely is important, and focusing on places or people outside the car can also cause distracted drivers to crash. Phones are a common source of these problems, even if the driver is using a hands-free device.
Making poor split-second decisions
When you are not fully focused on the road in front of you, it is easy to react poorly when something unexpected happens in front of you. Drivers who are already distracted can harm a pedestrian trying to cross the road or a motorcycle that they did not check for.
Staying aware of signs of distracted driving can help you no matter where you are going.