Distracted drivers are on the rise in Kentucky thanks to the increasing number of people with smart phones. Cell phone use is not the only distraction facing drivers today. There are ways to both avoid distracted driving and distracted drivers on the road by identifying some common signs.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has conducted research on distracted driving. The NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system.” In a very short amount of time, the vehicle can travel a great distance without you realizing it. In that time, an accident can happen.
The Gazette lists common signs the driver may be distracted. Keeping a cell phone in the passenger seat keeps some attention away from the road even if the driver is not on it. Passing someone actively on the phone or texting while at a red light indicates a distracted driver. A driver putting on makeup or fixing their hair does not have their full attention on the road. A car full of people is a distraction. Any of these activities result in taking the driver’s attention away from the road and onto something else.
Reducing the driver’s risk of distraction is one way to lower the chance of an auto accident caused by distracted driving. Paying attention to the road helps the driver avoid causing an accident and being in one. Drive defensively and consider a course in distracted driving to lower the driver’s risk of an accident.