4 Dangerous Distracted Driving Habits That Can Be Fatal

Driving while distracted puts not only your life at risk, but also of your passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. While driving, if your attention is off the road and your eyes are focused on something else, then the risk of collision goes up. This is due to the fact that a distraction reduces your awareness of the surroundings and impairs your performance. It slows down your reflexes and your ability to effectively respond to critical events on the road - putting you in a situation where you need emergency roadside assistance services.

Transport Canada’s National Collision Database shows that in 2016, distracted driving resulted in an estimated 21 percent fatal collisions and 27 percent serious injury collisions. These statistics show a rising trend from 16 percent and 22 percent, respectively, from a decade earlier. Canada also has the highest number of DUI deaths across the developed world with an overwhelming 34 percent of all motor deaths relating to alcohol consumption.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving involves any activity that takes away a driver’s attention from the task of safe driving towards something else. It may include daydreaming, talking on the phone, looking away from the road to use the entertainment system, etc.

Four Most Common Distracted Driving HabitsUsing Mobile Phones

Studies suggest that talking on your mobile phone increases your chances of being involved in a car crash by four times, especially if the call makes you upset or emotional. Driving while texting has become an increasingly dangerous trend among young people - no text or call is worth your life.

Earphones and wireless headsets have caused a decrease in the risk somewhat as these only limit your mental capabilities. Handheld devices, on the other hand, cause both manual and cognitive impairment, and in some states, they're mandatory if you want to talk on the phone while driving.

Eating and Drinking

When you are running late for work or school, it seems only natural to drive and eat at the same time so you can make it in time. Especially with the ease of drive-thru food places, more and more people drive while drinking or eating. You might believe that you can do these tasks without any issues, but in reality, it's both a visual and mental distraction that takes your eyes off the road repeatedly.

It can cause you to spill scalding coffee on your lap or greasy hands make your grip on the steering wheel slip. In both cases, drivers face a potential risk of collision or an unexpected event that can lead to a loss of control due to a momentary lapse in focus. Therefore, you should eat before or after you drive to ensure your safety and that of others around you.

Applying Makeup

When you are in a rush and you don’t get the chance to put on make-up before leaving your house, you might get a little desperate. Seeing a vanity mirror in the fold-down visor right above your car’s windscreen makes you think that it’s only sensible to apply makeup while you can. However, this causes your eyes to shift from the road to the mirror and your hands off the steering.

Whether you think you are good at multi-tasking or not, it’s not worth the risk of being distracted by make-up and getting into a collision with another car or a bystander. Always wait until you get off the road, park your vehicle, and then do your make-up.

Using Car Entertainment System

Listening to music while driving can help curb boredom and fill uncomfortable silences, however, loud music can be highly distracting and dangerous. A study by researchers found that the reaction time of a driver can slow by as much as 20 percent when listening to music at a high volume. Even a second off the wheel and changing a song on your stereo can lead to a number of dangerous situations.

Therefore, you should take some time to curate a driving playlist before getting behind the wheel and save yourself and others from any unfortunate circumstances.

How To Avoid Distracted Driving

Distracted driving puts the lives of drivers, their passengers, and other road users such as bystanders and cyclists at risk. You should play your part to help prevent distracted driving on your roads and safeguard precious lives. You can do this by adopting certain habits before and while you are driving.

For instance, you can get your things in order the night before to allow yourself plenty of travel time in case you are running late. You can have a premade playlist to avoid changing songs in between the ride. Ensure that your Bluetooth is connected before the journey. Setting your location and turning on voice navigation can also help. Secure and put away any loose items and prepare your children and strap them in properly before driving.

Also, try not to use your phone to text, call or check social media while driving. You should only answer any calls in case of an emergency and use a Bluetooth headset for this purpose. Keep your handles on the wheel at all times and eye-focused in front of the car. This way you will help ensure a safe journey for yourself and others around you.

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