There are many dangers on Washington state roads, but one that has become prominent in recent years is distracted driving. While people might have an idea of what activities contribute to a lack of attention – a cellphone for example – they might not know the specific types of distracted driving.
The three areas impacted by distracted driving
Being distracted hinders three areas that are keys to being focused behind the wheel. They are visual, manual and cognitive. With certain activities, all three could be compromised. As the term implies, visual means removing one’s eyes from the road. Looking at a cellphone, checking GPS, changing the radio and other actions that require visual activity can spark this aspect of distraction.
Removing the hands from the wheel is a manual distraction. This includes manipulating a device, but it might also involve eating, applying makeup, and any other activity that requires the hands. Cognitive distraction is if a person is not thinking about what he or she is doing. Daydreaming, chatting with a passenger, thinking about personal and professional concerns, or simply being preoccupied are examples of this. The most problematic forms of distraction combine all three, frequently causing motor vehicle accidents.
An understanding of distracted driving is important after an accident
When a person is distracted, they are unprepared for sudden eventualities that can happen when driving and lead to a collision. Simply categorizing distracted driving as texting and driving is a mistake since it involves much more than that. Any form of distraction is a risk and those who have been injured or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident should consider all of them. Having advice in pursuing compensation for medical costs, lost income and more is also critical when deciding how to proceed.
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