Driving Free from Inside Distractions

Many drivers subconsciously engage in secondary activities while behind the steering wheel. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers who smoke, eat, drink, converse with someone on the vehicle, or fidget on the stereo or electronic gadgets while driving are distracted 30 percent of the time.

Doing such behaviors can be so dangerous that even one kind of distraction may result to fatal collisions and near-crashes. According to the NHTSA, distracted driving is seen as the main reason for 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes in the country.

Driving distractions are a combination of two factors: the need to drive the car and the need to interact with the surroundings. While driving free from distractions is not an easy task to do, many drivers today are doing their best to alleviate the possibility of getting involved in a road accident.

Here are some inside-the-vehicle distractions that drivers must know. Supplied in every one of them are things that must be done to prevent these distractions from happening:

·         Cognitive distraction – This refers loss of mental concentration while on the road. This is usually caused by fatigue or drowsiness. The best way to prevent such distraction is to take plenty of rest. If feeling tired or sleepy on the road, the driver can pull over on the side of the road and take a nap or energize.

·         Visual distraction – This refers to the inability of the driver to look up at the road ahead due to the use of such gadgets such as the car stereo and the mobile phone.  To prevent from getting distracted visually, the driver must keep his or her eyes straight on the road.

·         Auditory distraction – This refers to the inability of the driver to hear noises inside and outside the vehicle because of the loudness inside. It could be a fiery conversation or an increased volume of the car stereo. To prevent this from happening, the driver can turn down the volume of the stereo or ask the passengers to tone down their voices.

Driving distractions while inside the vehicle is a form of negligence, or the failure to exercise reasonable care. A person who gets injured because of someone else’s negligence can file a claim against the liable party with the help of a Los Angeles injury lawyer.