Every time you go somewhere in your car, the risk of getting into an accident caused by a distracted driver is there. These accidents are prevalent and kill and injure many drivers and passengers every single day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately eight people in the U.S. die in distracted driving crashes on a daily basis. What many drivers do not realize is that distracted driving is more than just texting and driving, and there are three distinct types of driver distraction.
1. Visual
When you take your eyes off the road in front of you as you drive, you become visually distracted. For example, if you look at a GPS device to get directions while your vehicle is in motion, you experience visual distraction.
2. Cognitive
Driving is an activity that requires your full focus, so when you no longer concentrate entirely on driving, you become cognitively distracted. If, for example, you focus on a conversation with a passenger instead of the road, you become more likely to experience an injurious car accident due to cognitive distraction.
3. Manual
Manual distraction happens when you take your hands off the steering wheel. For instance, if you use one hand to change the radio while driving or pick up something off the passenger seat, you become manually distracted.
Manual, cognitive and visual distractions all endanger drivers and passengers. But texting and driving is one of the most dangerous activities because it combines all three types of driver distraction.