Massachusetts is one of the many states where distracted driving is starting to become more prevalent than ever before. With the induction of new technology, it’s becoming more tempting for drivers to take their eyes off of the road. It only takes a few moments of diverting your attention for you to be involved in a serious accident.
What is considered a distraction?
There are many different distractions that have the potential to cause an accident. Distracted driving is defined as any activity that takes the driver’s eyes off of the road. These include things like eating, texting, taking pictures and applying makeup. In a study done of 2,000 Americans, 52.5% of the study participants revealed that they eat while they drive. The same study revealed that 23.6% of those who responded text while they drive.
Distractions of the senses
Driving instructions tend to be categorized into four different categories. These include visual, auditory, manual and cognitive. Visual distraction is when your eyes are focused on something other than the road in front of you. Auditory distraction is when you hear something that is not actually related to your driving. Manual distraction is when you take your hands off of the wheel. Cognitive distraction is when your mind is focused on something other than driving. Each one of these distractions decreases your driving ability and increases your risk of a motor vehicle accident. Many times, drivers experience a distraction that falls into more than one of these categories..
It can be very easy to become distracted from driving while trying to multi-task behind the wheel. While it might not seem like a big deal at the time, accidents happen every day due to distracted driving. It’s time to bring your attention back to the roadway and to the sole task of driving safely.
