Distracted driving is a problem in Delaware and across the country. In fact, according to Insurance Zebra, approximately nine people die in automobile crashes involving a distracted driver every single day in the United States. Furthermore, in any given day, more than 1,000 motorists, passengers or pedestrians sustain some type of injury because of distracted driving.
Delaware law prohibits drivers from using handheld devices when they are behind the wheel. Still, distracted driving is about more than using a smartphone. Here are four categories of distracted driving that may put your life in danger.
- Manual
Manual distractions are what drivers usually think of when contemplating distracted driving. This type of distraction occurs when you remove your hands from the wheel to send a text message, pick up a dropped object or change the radio station.
- Auditory
When you drive, you have an obligation to pay close attention to your surroundings. If your music is too loud, you may not be able to concentrate on the road. As such, you should attempt to keep auditory distractions to a minimum.
- Visual
If you do not keep your eyes on the road, you may have difficulty staying in your lane. You may also not see a stopped vehicle in sufficient time to avoid a collision. Visual distractions cause you to avert your eyes. Reading a text message, checking on back-seat passengers or watching the scenery may be exceedingly dangerous.
- Cognitive
Even though you may think you can operate your vehicle without much thought, driving requires concentration. If you are thinking about a contentious meeting, listening carefully to a podcast or debating politics with a passenger, you may not be devoting enough brain power to driving safely.
Even though police officers in Delaware consider distracted driving to be a top enforcement priority, bad habits are hard to correct. While stashing your smartphone until you arrive at your destination is a good idea, you must also recognize that other types of distracted driving may jeopardize your well-being.