Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb, LLC | attorneys at law

The 3 types of distracted driving

On Behalf of | May 18, 2023 | Car Accidents

Distracted driving happens in many different ways. People often assume that it means someone was looking at their cellphone. It can mean this, but it’s important to remember that other things also cause distraction.

As such, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has defined three specific areas of distraction. They are as follows:

1. Cognitive distractions

These are often the hardest to control. They mean that a driver is not thinking about their actions as intently as they should be. That driver may still appear to be paying attention, and they may look like they’re in control of the vehicle, but their mind is wandering.

2. Manual distractions

These are easier to spot because they mean that the driver is not holding onto the vehicle’s controls. An example could be if their cellphone falls out of their pocket and into the crack between the seat and the door. If they’re leaning over to try to dig the phone out, they’re not holding onto the wheel and they are manually distracted. Even things that a driver needs to do, like adjusting the mirrors, can be a distraction.

3. Visual distractions

Finally, it’s clear that drivers need to be looking at the road, but anything that takes their eyes away from the pavement can be a distraction. It could be something as simple as turning to talk to a passenger. It could also be something like writing a text message or changing the destination on the GPS.

Have you been injured?

You unfortunately do have to share the road with distracted drivers every single day. They’re going to make mistakes and cause accidents. If you’ve been injured in one of these accidents, you may deserve financial compensation.

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