A Tampa car accident can happen in the blink of an eye; it only takes one moment before an impact can happen. This is why distracted driving is so heavily discussed when taking driving courses. Though we heard a lot about it in high school, times have changed. There may be some things we do when driving that we don’t even realize are a distraction from driving.
Here are some of the common distractions during driving and how we can combat it.
Eating
You may not realize it, but eating while driving can distract your focus away from the road. Unwrapping food, handling it, and even chewing while driving can take our eyes off the road, putting ourselves and others in a vulnerable position. Eating before we hit the street is the safest way to ensure we aren’t distracted. Even eating a little bit before hitting the road can help with a growling stomach before driving and then finishing your food when you get to your destination.
Music
Loud music can distract you by dimming your senses around you. For example, you may not hear the horns, sirens, or other warnings of impending danger when driving. Music can also distract us when we need to scroll through our playlist while driving to find the perfect song for the trip. We’ve all been there and done that, but it’s a habit that can cost us if we aren’t careful. Selecting your playlist before you start driving and keeping the volume at a lower level can help remove distractions and keep us more alert about what is happening.
Talking on the Phone
With Bluetooth capabilities in most vehicles, handless talking on the phone has become standard. Though it is safer than having one hand on the wheel and the other on the phone, it can still be a distraction away from the task at hand. When talking, we tend to move our thought process away from what we are actively doing and focus more on the words being exchanged. Many people can do both at once, but it can still be a risk. To prevent this, you can install apps on your phone that redirect texts and calls immediately when you are on the road. This removes the distraction and temptation of answering the phone. If you know you have a phone call coming while driving, pulling over to talk is much safer than trying to talk and drive.
These are just some of the everyday, overlooked distractions we may find ourselves participating in while driving. Preventing these makes your trip safer and reduces the risk of a car accident. Remember, it’s always better to wait on these things than to put yourself, your loved ones, and others on the road in danger.
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