Texting While Driving May Not Be As Dangerous as These Common Activities
Road accidents due to texting behind the wheel have soared up. But, if we look closer unto the different distractions that the drivers of today face, texting is one that we should worry the least.
First consider the mate to texting, cell phone use. For years, this was atop the distractions list. Many states and cities now require one to use a non-hand held phone unit. This can involve a headset, speakerphone or other device that frees both hands. Still, just the act of talking with someone on the phone is a distraction. You’ve probably seen people driving either too fast or too slow, failing to stop at a stop sign, or ignoring highway signage, all the while talking with a phone in their ear. Well, even without the phone, look for similar actions if they are “on the phone!”
There is the usual activity of talking to somebody while you are driving; these conversations are distraction that you should be wary about.
Turning up and down the air conditioning, and defrosting controls makes the driver to look at the controls, most of the times reaching towards them. Adjusting the radio and CD controls, searching for a channel, popping the CD in and out the drive provides additional distractions.
The seemingly harmless looking at our in car navigation system of taking a glance at out roadmap while the vehicle is on motion has a distractive tone as well.
Next, consider the family, especially with very young children and babies. It doesn’t take much for an unruly child (especially if they are bothering a sibling) or an incessantly crying baby to cause a driving parent to turn around to see what is going on. And if the child is trying to get out of his/her seatbelt or throwing things, the increased anxiety easily redirects the driver’s attention to actions inside the car, not those outside.
Distractions can sometimes be linked with what we, drivers, should be doing in the first place. Often times we get side tracked with a lot of goings on the road, like an aggressive drivers snaking its way on the freeway. Our minds are suddenly shifted and glued to that driver when it should be on the road, other vehicles and the highway signage.
Road accidents, a wrecked car on the shoulder or even an island in the streets, or the flashing lights of a police cruiser can cause distractions. This scenario can only yield to one action, “rubbernecking,” or craning of the neck just to get a good look at what is going on. This is one of the causes of retarding the traffic flow and can cause some more accidents. Stay away from this, the last thing that you want is get a ticket.
On holidays such as July 4, one might catch the “rocket’s glare” as fireworks light up the sky. Viewing and waving to a political rally or a protest along the side of the road, looking out for real estate open house add, and garage sale hunting add to the list of distractions.
With the way things are, we might be looking to the future of driving laws becoming stricter. The distractions that we see as harmless will eventually warrant the driver’s tickets should these stricter laws be implemented.
The good thing is that it will take our minds off any unwanted distractions and further possible accidents.
Dorthy Weatherbush tries to be a safe driver all the time. She also tries to protect her vehicle. That’s why she buys automotive parts and accessories from Weather Tech. She can shop WeatherTech.com for all the car parts and accessories she needs.