Most Common Driving Distractions

Evans Halshaw MOST COMMON DRIVING DISTRACTIONS Percent of Traffic Fatalities that Involve the Following 11% - 32% 16% 31% Drunk Driving Speeding Distraction Bad Weather About Distractions can kill. It is said that, if you look away from the road for just two seconds, you will double the chance of you crashing your vehicle. There are many distractions whilst driving that take your mind of the surroundings and the vehicle in front of you. Here are the most common dangerous driving distractions. Eating and Drinking Eating and drinking whilst behind the wheel is a major distraction and can lead to devastating accidents. You could spill a scalding drink in your lap, your hands may become greasy and slip off the wheel, or you may not be able to change gear in time with one hand. It will reduce your reaction time and make you less able to maneuver away from danger. To avoid a serious accident, eat or drink before before you embark on your journey. Grooming or applying makeup You'll be surprised how many people you see rushing to work at 8:30 applying their makeup or shaving in the rear view mirror in the car along the way. This is the cause of many accidents as it massively diverts your attention away from the road. To avoid having to apply your makeup in the car, simply plan your time and wake up earlier. Talking or texting on the phone This is undoubtedly one of the biggest driving distractions and is the main cause of many accidents. Talking on the phone whilst driving will impair the driver's reaction time as they are not concentrating on the road. In many countries, it is now illegal to use your phone whilst driving in an attempt to reduce road traffic accidents and fatalities. Studies have shown that using your mobile phone whilst driving quadruples the chance of an accident. Adjusting audio or navigation Choosing your favourite song or inputting an address into your navigation system, or even following the directions whilst driving can be deadly. To complete these tasks, it requires your full attention. To avoid changing your navigation and audio controls whilst driving, input your destination before you set off and create an iPod playlist, or CD, with your favourite music to ensure you aren't constantly changing songs. When driving there are many things that will divert your attention. To stay safe you need to resist the urge to look away the from the road as it could be the last thing you ever do. images from shutterstock.com Chart Source statisticbrain.com Create infographics infogr.am