The 6 Most Frequent Distractions When Driving

Driving involves maintaining our full attention for a long time. We need to have all our senses alert when we are behind the wheel in order to avoid any type of accident. Even if it’s just for a few seconds, or if we think we have it under control, distractions can be lethal. Therefore, it is extremely important to know them and avoid behaviors that cause distractions while driving.

In today’s article, we will analyze the 6 most frequent distractions when driving so that you are aware of them and can remedy them.

The 6 most frequent distractions when driving

According to the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), 30% of accidents occur due to distractions. This means that they can and should be avoided since, due to distraction, we divert attention from what we are doing and it can be truly devastating. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that distractions can come from external or internal causes.

That is, the internal ones refer to the personal circumstances of the driver, such as the state in which the driver is, if he is fatigued, if he is sleepy, his physical state and, simply, there are people who are more easily distracted. what others. On the other hand, external causes do not depend on us alone, rather, it is external factors that incite distraction. Among them are roads that are very familiar to us or that seem monotonous, excessive signage, advertising, mobile phones, etc.

That said, let’s see what are the most common distractions when driving a vehicle.

1. Mobile phone use

First of all, we find using the phone to call, send messages and even change songs Many justify its use due to the hands-free system. However, a study concluded that after 3 minutes of conversation, a person’s ability to react decreases. After all, when chatting with someone, we end up paying more attention to the interlocutor than to the road itself. Going one step further, it is known that the use of electronic devices while driving reduces the speed of reaction and therefore makes it very difficult to brake in the event of an unforeseen event or pay attention to signals. And of course, using WhatsApp to send messages or audio diverts our attention a lot and is a real danger for us and for third parties.

Forgetting your cell phone or even leaving it behind is the best way to avoid temptation. If you expect an important call, make it as brief as possible, or let the interlocutor know that you are driving on the road and use the hands-free device.

2. The company

Traveling with someone is a common distraction. Because? Having someone next to or behind often causes the driver to stop paying full attention to the road and increases the risk of accidents Whether it is singing with the person next to you, arguing or even getting desperate because the children are fighting behind, it is a distraction that we must take into account. In fact, many drivers admit this reality.

As a tip, we can say that you should not argue while driving as it is very distracting and you have to make an effort to keep your attention on the road throughout the journey even if you have someone next to you. In the case of children, it is important to educate them about how they should behave on a trip.

3. Smoking

Although smoking while driving is not prohibited, it is very dangerous because it can cause distractions. Let’s start with the fact that Each driver loses an average of 4 seconds when lighting a cigarette During this time, the distance that a vehicle can travel exceeds 100 meters and therefore, your ability to react to any unforeseen event decreases significantly. In addition, it forces you to maintain an inappropriate position, and makes it impossible to keep your hands on the wheel. This can be a major inconvenience, as it makes it difficult to perform an emergency maneuver if necessary.

It is recommended to forget about tobacco while driving. We must think that car journeys are not really so long that we cannot avoid smoking inside the vehicle. If the trip is really long, it is advisable to stop every two hours, we can take advantage of those moments to smoke, drink and eat.

4. Animals in the vehicle

It is important to follow the measures established by the DGT to transport animals in the vehicle. Sudden movements or crying from a pet are distractions that can upset the nerves and, of course, distract the driver Of course, it is advisable that when traveling with animals inside the vehicle, place a separator to prevent them from causing discomfort or being a cause of distractions. In fact, more than half of drivers experience risky situations due to not having animals properly secured in their vehicles.

5. GPS/Radio Management

Although setting the GPS takes a few seconds and it seems like nothing can happen, this is not the case. Those seconds on the road are key to whether or not you suffer an accident. Ultimately, we must be clear that anything that diverts attention from the road is a risk for us. Therefore, it is recommended to program the GPS before starting the trip. It is also advantageous to use them with voice, so as not to look at them. As for the radio, something as common as changing the radio station, song or turning the volume up and down, are behaviors that pose a real risk while driving. To avoid this, if we are accompanied, the person next to us is the one who should dedicate themselves to these issues. If we go alone, the music must be programmed with the vehicle stopped.

6. Eat or drink inside the car

Eating or drinking while driving takes your hands off the wheel and is a major distraction for the driver. Once again, taking a bite of a snack or taking a sip of water causes you to take your eyes off the road. It has been estimated that this takes about 3 seconds. Although it may seem minimal, it means that each bite makes you lose sight of the road for almost 197 meters, enough distance to crash into the car in front or change lanes. The DGT recommends stopping to rest and thus take the opportunity to eat and drink something.