Safe driving is a must for all Lake Charles motorists. However, thanks to an influx of technology distracted driving behaviors are becoming increasingly common among many motorists. A deadly crash can result from even just a second of inattention, which is why it’s so important that drivers are fully aware of the dangers of distracted driving.
As stated by Distraction.gov, inattentive driving behaviors are linked to many devastating accidents. Young people are particularly prone to partaking in distracted behaviors while driving. For instance, deadly crashes involving ten percent of teens aged 15 through 19 were attributed to driving while distracted. Additionally, almost 4,000 deadly crashes occurred because of driving distractions in 2014 alone.
Distracted driving can involve many different behaviors, from using a mobile device to eating behind the wheel. Texting while driving has become an increasing concern for many motorists, as illustrated by the rising number of drivers who participate in this activity. While in 2013 1.7 percent of motorists texted and drove, in 2014 this number rose to 2.2 percent. On average, sending a text message causes drivers to remove their eyes from the road for five seconds.
According to Enddd.com, there are a few different types of distracted driving that all motorists should be conscious of. Taking one’s eyes away from the road ahead is considered a visual distraction. A manual distraction occurs when a driver breaks contact from the wheel (such as grabbing a beverage from the cup holder). There are also cognitive distractions, which simply entails letting one’s mind stray away from the task at hand.