What makes distracted driving so dangerous?

Pennsylvanian drivers like you work hard to protect yourself on the road. You get enough rest, you limit distractions, you try to keep your wits about you. Unfortunately, even with the best of precautions and preparation, accidents still happen. 

One of the leading contributing factors with these crashes is distraction. What about driver distraction makes it such a harrowing ordeal? 

The many sources of driver distraction

The National Safety Council discusses the risks inherent in distracted driving. Distracted driving has held a position as a crash-causer since cars first hit the streets. Human nature itself is part of what makes distraction such a long-term issue. People simply have trouble focusing their attention for an extended period of time. 

On top of that, there is no way to get rid of every distraction from a car or the road. After all, driver distraction covers much more than cell phone use. Distractions fall under three main categories. This includes physical, cognitive and visual distractions. Physical distractions remove your hands from the wheel. Visual distractions draw your eyes from the road. Cognitive distractions include anything that distracts your thoughts from driving. 

Distracted driving behaviors you may not know of

A few examples of distracted driving that almost everyone does includes: 

• Drinking water or coffee 
• Talking to passengers 
• Listening to music 
• Adjusting the temperature or radio station 
• Following GPS instructions 
• Getting lost in an unfamiliar area 

You can see why your chances of running into a distracted driver are so high. Still, this does not mean drivers cannot take steps to make themselves safer. Blatant disregard for others result in the most reckless distracted driving incidents. It can cause damage to everyone involved, especially you.