The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that more than 3,400 people were killed in auto accidents caused by distracted driving in 2016. In fact, an estimated 10 percent of all deadly car accidents involve distracted driving of some. With the myriad of potential distractions that exist today, far too many people fall into the trap of attempting to multitask while operating a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, distracted driving is a growing epidemic throughout the country and the consequences are deadly.
The most basic definition of distracted driving refers to a person who is paying attention to something other than the road while operating a car, truck, or motorcycle. All too often a motorist grows comfortable while driving and they begin to lose their focus. This has become second nature to many, causing a shocking number of auto accidents each year.
Today, Abel Law Firm is taking out some time to discuss the most common causes of distracted driving in order to highlight the danger that these actions bring. The good news is that distracted driving is entirely preventable and sometimes being made aware of the causes is all it takes to thwart these bad habits.
Distracted Driving Examples
Any action that takes a motorist’s attention away from driving is considered distracted driving. Typically, distracted driving comes in three different forms: manual, visual, or cognitive. Manual distracted driving refers to anything that takes a person’s hands off of the wheel. Visual distracted driving refers to anything that would take a person’s eyes off of the road. Finally, cognitive distracted driving refers to anything that takes a person’s mind off of the road.
Whether a driver is distracted manually, visually, cognitively, or a combination of a few, distracted driving of any kind poses a threat to the driver and every other car on the road. The following are some of the most common examples of distracted driving causes:
- Using a cell phone to do anything from making a call, writing a text message, checking social media, sending or receiving emails, utilizing an app, or even using the navigation system
- Making adjustments to the vehicle’s features such as changing the radio station, adjusting the air conditioning, moving the rear or side view mirrors, and switching the seat position
- Eating or drinking
- Speaking and/or interacting with passengers in the vehicle
- Listening to music very loudly
- Attempting to pick up a fallen item
- Reaching in the backseat to speak to or interact with a child
No matter what the cause may be, there is never a good excuse to engage in any of the above distracted driving activities while operating a motor vehicle. In the event that an emergency occurs, we recommend finding a safe place to pull over to handle the situation. An auto accident can happen in a flash and it is important to keep safety as a first priority at all times.
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident caused by distracted driving, you should consider reaching out to Abel Law Firm’s personal injury lawyers in San Francisco to review your claim. With decades of injury law experience, we offer a free consultation to help in determining if you have a case.
Contact our San Francisco office today to learn more!