Driving in Texas while distracted is one of the most dangerous things you can do when you are on the road. It’s one of the main causes of accidents and puts yourself and everyone else on the road in jeopardy. Here are the three main forms of distracted driving.
Visual
Being visually distracted means that you have taken your eyes off the road, and you are looking at something else. This is the most common form of distraction, and it can include things such as looking at the surrounding scenery, your cellphone and your passengers. Things happen very fast on the road, especially during heavy traffic, so taking your eyes off the road for even a second can end up with you colliding with somebody else’s car.
Manual
A manual distraction involves you taking your hands off the wheel. This type of distraction can include picking up your phone to text someone, adjusting the radio’s volume, applying makeup, picking up something that you dropped or even eating while driving. Not having both hands on the wheel can slow your reaction time if something or someone suddenly appears in front of you.
Cognitive
A cognitive distraction is when you are not mentally focused on driving. This can happen when you are talking to one of your passengers, speaking on the phone, listening to a podcast or just simply preoccupied with other thoughts.
This form of distracted driving can be very dangerous because it is easy for it to mix with the other types. For example, if you are texting and driving, that can be considered visual, manual and cognitive because your hands are off the wheel, your eyes are on your phone, and you’re thinking about what you are typing.
When you are driving, you need to make sure that your eyes are on the road, your hands are on the wheel, and you are mentally focused on what’s happening on the road. Always remember that neglecting to pay attention can lead to a disastrous motor vehicle accident (MVA) that could be life-threatening to everyone involved.
