Anything that takes your eyes from the road while you are driving is considered distracted driving and puts you more at risk of having an accident. Although you may think that you are a safe driver when on the road in Arizona, the fact is that you may be guilty of distracted driving and not even know it.
Types of distracted driving
The Centers for Disease Control says that there are three main types of distracted driving that may lead to personal injury. These include:
- Cognitive – taking your mind off driving
- Manual – taking your hands from the wheel
- Visual – removing your eyes from the road
Keep in mind that even if you are paying attention, another distracted driver could cut you off, pull out in front of you at an intersection or drift into your lane on the highway.
Multitasking is not possible in a car
Although you may be able to do more than one thing at a time at home or in your office, it is impossible to do so behind the wheel. When you try to do multiple things at once, your brain simply jumps back and forth quickly. Even though your mind may only be on the other task for seconds, it could be long enough to miss brake lights turning on in front of you, a light changing to red or a child crossing the street. In addition, eye activity slows down, and you have fewer problem-solving skills when you try to multitask.
Eating while driving
Many people grab a meal or two in the car because they are so busy. However, eating while driving is as dangerous as texting while driving. Eating can lead to a spill or leak that needs your attention quickly. In order to eat, you must typically take one hand from the wheel to do so. Even worse, if you have small children in the car with you, it is possible you will be turning around and handing them food in the back seat, removing your eyes from the road for a significant amount of time. These actions can lead to severe personal injury to you, your family and others on the road.
Distracted driving is extremely risky, so it is critical for every driver to focus their attention on the road. If you are involved in an accident with a distracted driver, you should contact an attorney to guide you through what your next steps should be.