Of all the issues that drivers in Ohio could encounter on the roadways of our state, distracted driving is growing to be the biggest concern of all. For many years, the biggest concern was drunk driving, which has been the cause of countless lost lives and wrecked families. But distracted driving appears to be taking over the dubious mantle of the most pressing danger on our nation’s roads.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving is so dangerous that this negligent behavior accounts for approximately 1,000 injuries a day in car accidents throughout the country. Even more disturbing, an estimated nine people per day are killed in distracted driving car accidents.
What is it that is causing some of the drivers in our country to be so distracted that they take their eyes off the roads and put themselves and others at risk of being involved in a serious, and even fatal, car accident? Well, the CDC states that drivers can be distracted in three different ways: visually, manually and cognitively.
Visual distraction includes distractions caused by cellphones and other electronic devices. These devices cause drivers to take their eyes off of the road. Manual distraction includes distractions that cause drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. Eating, putting on makeup or adjusting the radio are all activities that can cause drivers to take their hands off the wheel. Lastly, cognitive distraction includes distractions that make drivers take their minds off the task of driving the vehicle. Conversations with others in the vehicle, or attending to children in the backseat, can be a form of cognitive distractions.