What Counts As Distracted Driving
Before the most recent technology boom, distracted driving wasn’t as easy to pinpoint. In fact, not many people even considered it much of an issue. Unless of course, a driver was blatantly playing the French horn while clipping their toenails, no one really paid it any mind. With the rise of smartphones, the definition of what is considered to be distracted driving has broadened. Here’s a hint: it’s anything that may be distracting.
Cell Phones
Cell phones are an obvious distraction while navigating the roads. Fingers are usually pointed at texters, which brought forth the popular hashtag, “it can wait” which refers to those who feel the need to quickly respond to any flash or buzz that springs from their phone. This leaves the bluetooth conversationalists to continue about their business without feeling like their at fault, when in reality, talking on the phone can be just as dangerous as texting. After all, it’s still a distraction.
Passengers
Aside from talking to friends, families, or coworkers on the phone, a sometimes less avoidable distraction can be the conversations that take place among the passengers within the car. How often has someone missed an exit because they were distracted by the discussion that was taking place. While missing an exit isn’t as life threatening as it is inconvenient, one has to admit that it’s still a distraction. Maybe next time it won’t be a missed exit, but raher failing to notice brake lights up ahead.
GPS
Newer vehicles, like the Honda Civic, are now equipped with built-in GPS to make zipping between routes throughout Los Angeles an easier feat. However, be careful about switching up the route while on the way. Choosing the destination before pressing on the gas is the safest bet. It’s treacherous to attempt inputting an address while maneuvering the vehicle. If the address has changed or a mistake has been made, the driver should always pull over before correcting their mistake.
It’s also recommended to look over the GPS route before hitting the road. Knowing ahead of time which exits to be looking for and which lanes to be in can help keep the driver’s eyes on the road. Staring at the GPS for too long at a time would obviously be a distraction that can lead to a collision.
Cigarettes
A lot of smokers do most of their indulging while driving. They claim it helps pass the time, or it’s something to do. Well, they already have something they should be doing—driving! Cigarettes are one of the most risky distractions for a driver. They need to ash somewhere, whether it’s out the window or an ashtray. Doing so takes precision and caution, and is a huge distraction. Even with the utmost care, there’s still a risk of ashing on the lap, on the floor, or dropping the cigarette as whole under the seat. Catching fire is definitely a hazard and a distraction while driving.
