What is a distracted driver?

Distracted drivers are a risk to themselves and others on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving leads to around 3,000 deaths a year in this country. It also causes many more non-fatal crashes. The problem occurs among all age groups.

How distractions affect drivers

Distractions affect drivers in three ways:

• Not looking at the road: Visual distraction can happen for many reasons. For example, if you are looking at your phone to read a message or staring at your road map to work out which route to take, your eyes aren’t on the road.
• Not keeping your hands on the wheel: Manual distraction involves you removing one or both hands from the wheel. That could be to type a text message or reach for some food.
• Not thinking about driving: Cognitive distraction can also happen for many reasons. One example is thinking about what the person you are talking to via your hands-free phone is saying. Another is wondering what is for dinner or which route would be quicker.