Let’s take a look at these common thing that cause dangerous distracted driving.
We all learn the basic rules of the road when we learn to drive. Remember pouring over that yellow learner driver’s book and sweating as each multiple-choice question popped up on the screen? We were all very diligent back then.
However, as the years go by and our attention span thins (thank you 7-second videos), we start to slip when it comes to the rules of the road. It’s a good thing that you’re here. It’s time to brush up on our driving skills.
Visual, manual and cognitive distractions
There are three main categories of distracted driving, and we’ll discuss all three throughout the blog and flag which one fits where.
A visual distraction is when your eyes are not on the road.
A manual distraction is when your hands or feet are doing something other than driving.
A cognitive distraction is when your mind isn’t focused on the task at hand, driving a car on a busy road filled with other cars.
5 distracted driving habits to ditch
When you get into your car, that’s really the only thing you need to be focused on. Whilst you’re in that steel bubble, everything else can wait. It might feel like you’re wasting time by not doing something whilst you’re driving, even if it’s just grabbing a bite to eat or scanning through an email.
When you’re driving, every second counts. You’ll find out why soon.
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Being on your phone
People often think of the slogan “don’t text and drive”. What people often forget is that texting is not the only cellular distracted driving activity you should be avoiding.
Did you know that looking down from the wheel to read a WhatsApp is the same as driving blindfolded for 5 seconds? Would you truly and honestly let somebody cover your eyes for even a second whilst you’re driving 80km per hour? No. You would call them crazy and ideally kick them out of your car.
Finding a new song, speaking using your handset and checking the time are all small distractions that have big repercussions.
Find out more: 5 Myths You May Have Believed About Texting and Driving
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Disruptive passengers
We’ve all seen the movie scene where five friends are happily driving along, jamming out to a coming-of-age rock ballad and then… well, you know. Bang.
You don’t need to drive solo, but you do need to be wary of how many people you’re transporting. You also need to be firm when things are getting too loud or out of hand, casing distracted driving.
This applies whether you’re lifting a bunch of kids to school or being the designated driver after a big night out.
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Stop zoning out
It happens. After a long day at the office or whilst sitting in traffic, it becomes easy to slip into a daze. Daydreaming about Harry Styles is a lot more appealing than focusing on the car you’ve been stuck behind for 10 minutes. But that brief moment of distracted driving could be brought to a screeching halt when you have an accident.
Are you guilty of one of these bad driving habits? (5 Bad Driving Habits to Avoid Right Now)
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Keep your hands on the wheel, not your meal
We know that time can be tight between meetings, pick-ups and appointments, but driving time is not lunchtime.
Trying to drive whilst keeping tomato sauce from sliding down your chin is a recipe for disaster. Unwrapping a flimsy foldover is no good when you have no hands left for the wheel. Eating is distracting, and it’s best to wait until your car is parked to enjoy your meal.
Plus, you deserve proper time to eat. Eating in your car takes away from the pleasure of a good meal, so take some time to stop and smell the hot sauce and avoid this distracted driving habit.
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Save your smoke breaks
Not only does smoking in your car make it smell bad, it’s a distraction that most people miss.
Taking time to open your cigarette box, light one up and enjoy the nicotine sensation is absolutely considered distracted driving. There’s also the aspect of flicking your ash out of the window and neatly packing away your cigarette butt when you’re done (because we’re really hoping you don’t throw them out of the window).
The same goes for vaping. While it might seem less intrusive than a cigarette, reaching for your vape, adjusting settings or refilling pods still pulls your attention away from the road. The hand-to-mouth movement, vapour clouds and frequent use can be just as distracting as smoking, especially in stop-start traffic.
Read this next: 6 Safe driving practices that just might save your life
Focused driving is safe driving
We’re not saying you can’t enjoy the view whilst listening to your favourite album on your weekly Sunday drive. Not at all. We’re saying it’s time to be present and avoid distracted driving. And who knows, that could do wonders for your mental health too!
Yours in safety-first car insurance,
Oneplan
