Which is the Most Dangerous Type of Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is incredibly dangerous, which is why states throughout the country have passed various types of distracted driving prevention laws. However, is there one type of distracted driving that is more dangerous than others? Here, we want to examine what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about distracted driving, including the various types of distracted driving that could lead to severe accidents on the roadway.
There Are Various Types of Distracted Driving
It is important to understand that there are various types of distracted driving. When we look at information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we can see that the agency says that there are three main types of destruction behind the wheel:
- Visual. This involves distractions that take a person’s eyes off of the roadway.
- Manual. This revolves around distractions that take a person’s hands off the steering wheel.
- Cognitive. This involves any type of distraction that takes a person’s mind off of driving.
When we examine these three separate types of distracted driving, we can see that there are various activities that drivers can engage in. In some cases, there are distractions that fit all of those definitions.
Some of the most common types of distracted driving that cause crashes on the roadways of California include the following:
- Sending or receiving text messages
- Browsing the Internet or social media
- Taking selfies
- Filming videos while driving
- Talking to others in the vehicle
- Reaching for objects in the vehicle
- Eating or drinking while driving
For a moment, let’s consider what is arguably the most popular social media app right now – TikTok. It is not uncommon to see TikTok videos where individuals are actually driving while also filming the video, looking at the camera, and even performing dance moves all at the same time. This essentially takes a person’s eyes off the roadway, their hands off the wheel, and their mind off of the task of driving.
Is One Type of Distraction More Dangerous Than Others?
The reality is that any type of distracted driving is dangerous on the roadway. The CDC says that, during a recent reporting year, there were more than 400,000 injuries caused by the actions of a distracted driver on the roadways throughout the country.
In the effort to narrow down the most “dangerous” type of distracted driving, we run the risk of making people think that there are some types of distracted driving that are “okay” or “less dangerous.” That is not what we want to do.
Instead, we want to stress the importance of putting away all distractions when you get behind the wheel of your vehicle. We understand that this can be difficult, particularly when you are busy or need to get in contact with somebody. One thing we do know is that the vibration or “ding” of a notification on a cell phone does not come with a time limit. The message or notification will still be there when you stop your vehicle.
If you or somebody you care about has sustained an injury as a result of the careless or negligent actions of a distracted driver, we encourage you to speak to a skilled Sacramento car accident attorney who can help you determine the best steps forward for securing compensation for your losses.