Distracted Driving – It’s More Than Texting

Distracted driving is now well-ensconsed in people’s minds as a threat to road safety. Campaigns to get people to put down their phones and concentrate on the road have had an effect. Now, most drivers realize that texting or talking on the phone while holding it in their hand can divert their attention from what’s in front of them. However, texting and phone use are not the only causes of distracted driving. Anything that pulls your attention away from the road can lead to distracted driving — even your own attention span.

When you drive, you have to pay attention to the road, the cars around you, traffic signals, signs, potholes, and a host of other issues. Take your attention off the road at all — in other words, become distracted — and you could end up reacting too late to stop an accident.

External distractions include getting lost in texting or web surfing on your phone, paying more attention to switching the radio station, reaching into your purse, trying to stop your dog from attacking the gearshift, picking up that soda from a cupholder, and even just talking to the passenger next to you. Texting alone increases your chances of getting into an accident by 6.1 times, and that is among the smaller increases, according to the National Academy of Sciences; imagine how many more accidents are due to those additional distractions.

You can have internal distractions, too. Daydreaming and being tired are two big contributors to distraction. Even if you aren’t fully drowsy, simply not paying that much attention to the road because you want to get home fast and nap can be distracting.

If you have been in an accident that involved distracted driving, you must speak with a lawyer immediately. Contact Eisenberg Law Offices at (608) 256-8356to discuss your case. Do not head to court on your own.