Texting and driving is often referenced when people are discussing the dangers of distracted driving. After all, a driver who is using their cellphone is more likely to get into a car accident. This is why most states have banned the practice and restricted the use of handheld devices.
But, it may even be worse than people realize. Texting and driving is not just one type of distraction, but three combined and occurring simultaneously.
The 3 types of distracted driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are three main types of driving distractions: Manual distractions, visual, distractions and cognitive distractions. Drivers may let go of the controls, look away from the road or mentally focus on something other than driving the car.
With texting and driving, that person is likely doing all three of these things at once. They may be looking at the screen of their phone as they read a text, all while holding the device in their hand. This means it’s a visual and a manual distraction. The driver may also be thinking about the contents of the message, considering what they want to write in response or something else of this nature. They are mentally and cognitively distracted.
Any single distraction can lead to an accident. A driver who is looking down may not see traffic slow ahead of them, which is a visual distraction. This delays their reaction enough that they rear-end the next car.
Now, think about that visually distracted driver if they aren’t holding the steering wheel and thinking about a conversation with someone who isn’t even in the car. It’s almost impossible for them to avoid that rear-end crash. Those who have been injured in these accidents, which are caused by the negligence of distracted drivers, must know how to seek financial compensation.