It can be easy to lose focus when driving. Even if you’ve been traversing the roads and highways in California for some time, you should still consider whether you’re utilizing safe driving behaviors. As explained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following distracted driving behaviors are very dangerous, as they can greatly inhibit your judgment and other crucial abilities.
In terms of which drivers have the greatest risk of driving while distracted, teens and young adults are the most likely to be involved in a fatal crash as a result of these behaviors. Younger drivers are also more likely to engage in other dangerous behaviors, such as not wearing their seatbelts, drinking and driving, or driving with those who are drunk.
Additionally, there are three different types of distracted behaviors to be aware of. A manual distraction is when you take your hands off the wheel for any reason, even to adjust the radio. Cognitive distractions involve taking your mind off driving, such as while daydreaming or having a conversation. There are also visual distractions, which occur when you take your eyes off the road. Texting or emailing while driving is highly dangerous, as it incorporates all three behaviors.
To understand just how serious distracted driving is, one only needs to look at the statistics. On a daily basis, up to 1,000 people are involved in car accidents that entail some type of distracted behavior. Of that number, approximately nine people succumb to injuries resulting from these accidents. While there are many state and federal laws aimed at banning these behaviors, it’s still up to each individual driver to make safety a priority.