If you ask someone what driving distractions look like, they will probably say that distracted driving means texting and driving. And it is true that this is one of the most common forms of distracted driving, leading to accidents day in and day out. It is important for all drivers to understand the risk and stay off their phones.
But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can actually split distracted driving into three main categories. Texting and driving is not a category, but simply one example. Distractions can take many forms.
1. Physical distractions
First of all, there are physical or manual distractions that make it more difficult to control the vehicle. An example of this could be someone who is holding their phone while typing a text message. They can’t hold the wheel with both hands if one hand is on their phone.
2. Visual distractions
The second category refers to visual distractions, meaning the driver is not looking at the road ahead. Once again, texting fits into this category because the driver would likely be looking down at the screen of their device.
3. Mental distractions
Finally, there are cognitive distractions that mean the person isn’t thinking about what they’re doing, perhaps because their mind is wandering. If someone gets a stressful text from their spouse or their boss, for instance, they may be thinking about it even after they are done reading the message. This still distracts them from driving the vehicle.
All of these issues can lead to serious car accidents in St. Louis, MO, and in Illinois, and injured parties need to know how to seek financial compensation.