Cellphones are clearly one of the main causes of distracted driving. Most drivers understand that, even while they are distracted. Someone who is trying to type a text message while driving down the freeway understands that they are not nearly as focused on the traffic around them as they should be.
However, there are some misconceptions about cellphone distractions. One is that the distraction ends immediately if you put the phone down. The reality is that the mental distraction tends to last for roughly 27 more seconds.
Why is this a problem?
This is an issue because drivers will sometimes think that they have taken steps to stay safe when they are actually still significantly distracted.
For instance, someone may want to check their text messages on the way to work, but they are trying to avoid distracted driving. They wait to pull out their phone until they have to stop at a red light. After all, the car is not moving, so it feels safe.
But even if they put their phone down when the light turns green, the cognitive distraction remains. They have not been thinking about the vehicles around them, watching for pedestrians in the crosswalk or paying attention to the flow of traffic.
A distracted driver who is waiting to turn left, for example, could hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk who had the right of way. Their attention has not been on what is happening around them and they’re still distracted as the car starts moving again, so these types of mistakes and oversights are more likely.
Financial compensation
Have you been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver? If you have, it is critical that you understand exactly what legal steps to take.
