Different Types of Driving Distractions

What's in this article?

Phone Calls & Text Messages
Music & Food
Adjusting Controls
Sightseeing & Rubbernecking
Moving Objects In The Car

Distracted driving accounts for thousands of deaths every year, as well as hundreds of thousands of accidents. Despite these statistics, many people still do many of the things that cause these accidents, with little thought to how certain distractions can affect their ability to safely operate a vehicle. Put simply, anything that takes your eyes or attention off the road is a distraction and increases your odds of having an accident, sometimes drastically so.

Phone Calls & Text Messages

The absolute worst distraction while driving is your cell phone, which probably doesn’t come as a big surprise to anybody. It goes without saying that you should not text or talk on the phone when driving, Shockingly, it’s not illegal to text and drive in all states, but it is in the overwhelming majority of them so you can risk getting a ticket, aside from the danger it poses to you and your passengers’ safety. Even if you have hands-free capability in your vehicle, talking on the phone or using voice to text is still a distraction and should be avoided if possible.

Music & Food

If you’re doing anything with your hands while driving, that’s one (or two) less hands you have on the wheel, which again increases your chances of being in an accident. Two of the biggest culprits here are music and food. If you need music while driving, set it up before you hit the road and let it play. If you absolutely need to have your favorite songs playing while driving, make a playlist and set it to play before you leave the driveway. Eating while driving is never a good idea either, for the same reasons. It doesn’t take that long to eat a burger and fries and that can easily be done while you’re parked, rather than on the road and taking an unnecessary risk.

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Adjusting Controls

Similar to eating or changing your music preferences, adjusting the controls of your vehicle while driving poses a risk too. With the advent of dashboard screens for many of the vehicle controls, it may seem easier to adjust things on the fly, but it’s just as dangerous. This includes things like mirrors, seat adjustments, temperature controls, and anything else that may take your eyes away from the road and your hands off the wheel. These things can almost always be done before you start driving and they should be to maximize driver and passenger safety.

Sightseeing & Rubbernecking

It can be quite tempting to look at your surroundings while driving and we’ve all done it when going past an accident or other distractions while on the road. Even driving past a beautiful part of nature while driving can be a distraction. While it may be tempting to take in a beautiful view while on the road, that’s what turnouts and pit stops are for. The same goes with having conversations with passengers while driving. It’s fine, even preferable, to have some conversation during a long trip, but that doesn’t mean you have to turn toward the people you’re talking to or glance at them in the rear-view mirror while talking.

Moving Objects in the Car

Anything that moves around inside the vehicle while driving can also be a major distraction. If you any clutter that can roll under the seats, or even worse, near the pedals of the driver, take care of it before driving. Pets are also in this category. If you want to take your pet for a ride, be sure they are safely harnessed or crated so that they don’t surprise you, even with affection, while you’re attention is on the road.