Three Ways that Distracted Driving Occurs

Being one of the largest states in the country, there are lots of people driving on roads throughout Texas. It would be nice to know that all of these drivers are following the rules of the road. However, this isn’t always the case. Unfortunately, many people find themselves falling victim to the dangers of distracted driving. With that in mind, here’s more information about the three main ways distracted driving occurs.

Visual distractions

As you’re driving, many things can distract your eyes from watching the road and other vehicles. For instance, you might look away from what’s in front of you to see something or someone on the side of a road. This is rubbernecking, and it’s incredibly dangerous. You can also experience visual distractions by looking at your smartphone while driving. A visual distraction can also occur when passengers distract you, causing you to look away from the road ahead.

Manual distractions

Some distractions cause your hands to move away from the steering wheel while you’re driving. These are types of manual distractions, and they are often a cause of distracted driving accidents. You can fall victim to manual distractions by doing things like adjusting your radio or your vehicle’s internal temperature controls while you’re driving.

Cognitive distractions

Not all motor vehicle accidents result from your hands being off the wheel or you taking your eyes off the road. Cognitive distractions can cause you to become a distracted driver. These distractions occur when a driver is thinking about something that doesn’t have to do with how they’re currently driving. What can make cognitive distractions scary is that many drivers don’t know when they’re happening.

As you can see, distracted driving can happen in several ways. While you’re behind the wheel of an automobile, stay aware of your surroundings and avoid thinking about subjects that don’t have to do with your driving.