Driving requires your full attention and a lot of focus. When you’re on the road, being distracted from what’s going on around you can lead to very serious consequences. Distracted driving will affect all drivers from time to time in various different ways. It does not affect all drivers the same; some will find themselves distracted in ways that they cannot control whilst others will frequently pay less attention to the road, increasing their risk of causing a disaster. It’s important to be aware that when you’re behind the wheel, it only takes one distraction and perhaps even the smallest of distractions for a terrible accident to happen.

Causes of Distracted Driving:

Any task that takes your full attention away from the road can be classed as a distraction. This could be anything from talking to a passenger in the car to adjusting the radio, using your cell phone, putting on your seat belt, loud kids in the back of the car or applying your make-up. Unfortunately, it’s common for people to try and multitask whilst driving, but any distraction, whether it’s eating with one hand and driving with the other, looking away for a second to pick up a fallen object, or inputting directions into your GPS system can be all it takes to lead to a serious accident.

The Consequences:

Some instances of distracted driving may not seem that bad at the time, but the truth is that removing your eyes from the road for just a couple of seconds could lead to drastic consequences. Distracted driving can be extremely dangerous and has in many cases led to horrific accidents on the road. The consequences can range from anything to minor damage to your vehicle to a totaled car, and if other people are caught up in it, they or even yourself, could suffer anything from minor to major injuries and in severe cases, distracted driving can even be fatal.

Distracted Driving and the Law:

Distracted driving can be so dangerous that many forms of it are outlawed in most states. For example, driving while distracted by a cell phone is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving and if you are caught doing this, you will certainly be pulled over and given a ticket and a fine. If using your cell phone while driving use leads to a serious accident or causes injury or death, you could find yourself facing a prison sentence.

What You Can Do:

The good news is that by proactively reducing the number of distractions in your car you can also reduce your risk of being involved in an accident. For example, if you are driving with kids you could provide them with something to do to keep them quiet and always have a hands-free kit connected to your car so that if you need to use your phone, you can do so distraction-free. Avoid eating, applying makeup, or trying to multi-task when driving.

Even if you are an experienced driver, taking your eyes away from the road even for a few seconds can lead to devastating consequences.