What Are the Most Common Causes of Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is a dangerous activity that causes thousands of injuries each year and inflicts major financial consequences on drivers as well. Approximately 25% of all fatal accidents are tied to distracted driving behavior.

We often equate distracted driving with cell phone use, but that is only one way that our attention drifts from the road. The US Department of Transportation defines distracted driving as any activity that keeps a driver’s full attention from the task of operating a motor vehicle. According to a recent study, some of the most common forms of distracted driving include:

Smoking is linked to about 1% of all distracted driving accidents. You’re most likely to cause an accident while trying to light a cigarette on the road or when putting it out. There is a simple fix – kick the habit. Smoking not only increases your risk for lung cancer and other health problems, it also increases your risk of injury in a car accident.

You likely do several things during your commute that equate to distracted driving without even realizing it. Examples include fiddling with the radio, adjusting your sideview and rearview mirrors, and adjusting your climate control.

One way to prevent such distractions is adjusting your car to the ideal settings before leaving your driveway. If you want to adjust the radio, try to do so during traffic stops, not while you are moving.

Your morning coffee fix could be a source of distraction that leads to accident. Unfortunately, our culture condones eating and drinking in vehicles, with fast food options and drive-thrus at every exit ramp. Eating and drinking both take your attention from the road and increase your chance of injury. Try eating before you hit the road. If you stop at a drive thru, wait until you reach your destination before sipping your morning latte.

Car accidents can be distracting. Unfortunately, gawking at car accidents itself is a contributing factor in crashes. About 7% of distracted driving crashes involving looking at another person or car accident. Instead of craning your neck to check out the damage on someone else’s car, keep your eyes on the road.

Using a cell phone does account for a significant number of distracted driving crashes. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking, texting, using your navigation system, or perusing your social media networks – using your phone while driving is extremely dangerous (and might even be illegal in your state). Stash your phone out of reach to avoid temptation.

Finally, another leading cause of distracted driving accidents is simply being lost in thought. A wandering mind takes your focus off the road and could be catastrophic. Unfortunately, this is also the hardest problem to rectify. Getting enough sleep certainly helps, as does taking frequent breaks during long road trips. Try to remain focused on the road throughout the duration of your trip and take turns with other passengers to avoid fatigue.

Car accidents caused by distracted driving can lead to devastating injuries, and they’re 100% preventable. Many of our national campaigns surrounding distracted driving focus on cell phone use, but there are several additional risk factors involved in distracted driving crashes. Chances are, you’ve done one of these things while operating a motor vehicle. Today, make a pledge to stop distracted driving. Keep your eyes and attention on the road, not on things like eating, drinking, being preoccupied with other drivers, cell phone activity, or mental distractions. By controlling your own behavior, you can make the roads a little bit safer for everyone.

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