April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, making it an excellent time to assess your habits while also becoming aware of the dangers other drivers may pose.
There are the three types of distractions:
Manual Distractions
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting controls
- Personal grooming
- Texting or dialing
Visual Distractions
- Looking outside or at a passenger
- Reading or texting
- Using GPS Devices
Cognitive Distractions (not focused)
- Daydreaming
- Stress or Emotional Distress
- Over-engaging in Conversation
Interesting fact: Using a hand-held device while driving is often cited as one of the most dangerous driving behaviors because it simultaneously involves manual, visual, and cognitive distractions. A driver on a handheld device is not only using their hands to manipulate the phone and their eyes to read the message, but their concentration is also shifted from driving to the content on the screen.
Remaining alert and attentive is very important when it comes to preventing and avoiding an accident.
BE SAFE OUT THERE!
George Wood