What kinds of distractions are there on the road?
There are three kinds of distracted drivers that put others at risk on the roads. The three types include manual, visual and cognitive distractions. If you're injured in an accident, it's possible that one of these kinds of distractions was the cause.
With cognitive distractions, a driver isn't focused on driving because he or she's doing something else that is mentally distracting. For instance, the driver may be talking to someone next to him or her in the passenger seat or be deep in thought over family issues or other important thoughts. Listening to the radio can be a form of cognitive distraction as well.
Visual distractions are the next kind of distractions. These include things like looking at a cellphone or turning around to check that children are wearing seat belts while you drive. Electronics, like games or GPS systems, DVD players or other systems, can also be visual distractions.
Finally, manual distractions are distractions that take place when both hands are taken off the wheel for a time, no matter what the reason is. For instance, if you spill a drink and take your hands off the wheel to brush the water off your shirt, then you would be distracted by the spill and have your hands off the wheel long enough to cause an accident.
How can these distractions be avoided? Drivers should try to turn off their cellphones or get a hands-free device for talking on the phone. Making sure children are buckled in before driving is also wise. If a child or pet needs help during the drive, it's important to remember to pull over instead of trying to help while you drive.
Source: esurance, "3 types of distracted driving," accessed Aug. 26, 2015
