Types of Mistakes Made by Distracted Drivers

It is often said that distracted driving is dangerous and leads to car accidents. This is certainly true, and there are many different forms of distraction. The cellphone is one of the most common, but it’s not the only one.

At the same time, though, many people believe that they can be effective and safe distracted drivers – despite the crash statistics. To dispel this myth, let’s take a look at some of the mistakes these drivers tend to make. Looking down at the phone is clearly a mistake, but what types of errors and accidents will it lead to?

Drifting out Of the Lane

Perhaps nothing is more common than a distracted driver drifting off of the right side of the road or over the centerline. This could cause an accident if there is a cyclist or a runner on the right-hand side, or it could cause a head-on accident with vehicles in the oncoming lane. On multi-lane highways, these drivers could sideswipe other cars.

Running a Red Light

Another issue that distracted drivers face is that they will sometimes run red lights or stop signs. Often, these drivers simply never saw the traffic control devices. Even if they did see a light or a sign, once they looked up from the phone, it may have been too late to stop in time.

Not Controlling Their Speed

Distracted drivers often struggle to control their speed, so they may tailgate vehicles ahead of them without even realizing it. this means that they are not prepared to react in an emergency, an issue that is only compounded by the fact that they are distracted and not fully alert. When people react slowly, they cause accidents or fail to avoid crashes that did not need to happen.

What Can You Do Next?

The above are certainly not all of the problems that you will see with distracted driving. Some are more minor, such as drivers not moving immediately when the light turns green. But these mistakes are all problematic and distraction does cause numerous accidents and injuries. Those who have been hurt need to know how to seek financial compensation.