Adults now place an emphasis on how much they can get done in one day, but there is one time when multitasking should be avoided—while driving. It’s a major safety hazard when drivers aren’t giving their attention to the road.
Distracted driving claims an average of nine lives per day in this country, which equates to around 3,000 people each year. One issue with these statistics is that each one of those people who died met that fate because a driver failed to pay attention while they were behind the wheel.
Types of distractions
Distractions fall into three distinct categories, with many distractions falling into more than one of these.
- Cognitive distractions: Deal with the driver thinking about things other than driving
- Manual distractions: Involve the driver taking their hands off the wheel
- Visual distractions: Require the driver to take their eyes off the road
The issue with drivers being distracted is that it only takes a few seconds for a crash to occur. A driver who isn’t paying attention to the road travels the length of a football field in just five seconds if they’re going 55 miles per hour. Without the driver paying attention, the vehicle isn’t under anyone’s control.
Distracted driving crashes can lead to significant injuries for the victims, which may require them to receive considerable medical attention. The costs of the care they need can be expensive, so they may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. Working with someone who’s familiar with these matters is beneficial since there are time limits for these cases.