Whether you’re about to get your driver’s license or have been on the road for years, being a responsible driver isn’t optional, it’s mandatory.
Each year, there are more than six million car accidents across the United States. These end up costing 90 people their lives every day.
Although many factors can lead to an accident, distracted driving is one of the most common. That’s why understanding the facts about distracted driving is so important.
To help you do just that, we’ve put together this guide. Once you finish reading, you’ll have a better understanding of just how crucial it is to stay vigilant while on the road.
Read on to learn more.
1. Teenagers Are at a Higher Risk
As anyone who was once between the ages of 13 and 19 can admit, teenagers think they’re invincible. While that can be positive, it can also translate into something negative while on the road.
Teenagers are at a much higher risk for accidents than their adult counterparts. Why is that?
Because on top of not having the driving skills of adults, they’re also more likely to text and engage in other distracted driving behaviors. They also get reckless easier than other drivers.
If you’re a soon-to-be teenage driver, make sure to take it seriously. If you have a child who will start driving soon, remind them how important it is to pay attention to the road.
2. Most Accidents Happen Near Home
Many people might think that car accidents happen in unfamiliar areas. After all, if you don’t know the lay of the land, you’d think that would increase your chances of getting into an accident.
In reality, the opposite is often the case.
When we are familiar with an area, many people tend to let their guard down. Because of that, the majority of car accidents actually happen close to your home.
Make sure to stay focused no matter where you are—whether you’re hundreds of miles away from home or right down the other side of your street.
3. Your Brain Can’t Multitask
You’ll hear many people claim that they’re excellent multitaskers. They can walk, talk, and chew gum at the same time—all without a problem.
When you’re driving a car, it’s important to understand that your brain can’t multitask—at least not in the way you might think. All you really do is switch your focus from one task to another.
While you might be able to get away with multitasking in your house, it’s not a good idea to try and do it in a car. You’re better off maintaining focus on the road.
4. Eating Is a Distraction
When you’re on your way to work in the morning, stopping for a bagel or a sandwich might seem harmless enough. After all, how problematic can eating while driving really be?
The truth is quite problematic.
Imagine that you’re eating something messy and it spills on your leg. What do you do? You look down to wipe it up.
In that tiny period of time when your focus is off the road, an accident can occur. So yes, eating is also a type of distracted driving.
Try your best to avoid eating in your car unless you do so in a parking lot. Besides staying safe, your car will also smell better!
5. Cellphones Are One of the Biggest Distractors
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that cell phones are another huge distractor. Cellphone use is one of the most common causes of distracted driving accidents.
Keep in mind that “cellphone use” doesn’t just mean talking on it or texting. It can include something as simple as using your phone to skip to the next song or checking the time.
Put your phone somewhere in your car where you won’t feel tempted to touch it. If you absolutely need to use it for an emergency, make sure to pull over while you do so.
6. Your Brain Needs Time to Process Your Surroundings
When you take your attention off of the road, understand that you can’t snap back to it right away. It takes your brain several seconds to get back to what it was doing.
That means that if you check your phone for something then try and focus on driving, your mind won’t be all there. Because of that, your driving skills won’t be as high as they normally are either.
To keep that from happening, make sure to focus all of your attention on driving along the road.
7. Deaths From Car Accidents Continue to Climb
The sad news is that car accident deaths continue to become more common. When you think about the number of distractions that the modern driver has access to, that’s not unsurprising.
While you might not be able to control what other drivers do, you can control yourself. Avoid being part of a statistic.
If you get into a car accident and suspect that the other driver was distracted, don’t be afraid to pursue legal action. In that case, we recommend working with this law firm.
Remembers These Facts About Distracted Driving
Each time you get behind the wheel of a car, you need to take driving seriously. Your wellbeing and that of those around you depend on it.
Use this guide to help you better understand the facts about distracted driving. Share some of the points mentioned with those around you to help them drive safer as well.
Do you now better understand the dangers of distracted driving? If you do, make sure to check out the rest of our site for more great content.
