Drivers in Connecticut have a responsibility to stay safe on the road, but distracted driving continues to be a big issue. There are many common distractions that drivers should be aware of so they can take the proper precautions to prevent accidents with others.
The CDC reports that almost 400,000 people receive injuries, and around 3,470 people die, due to distracted driving. Distractions can occur visually, cognitively or manually, and examples include using the navigation system, putting on makeup, eating and reading. Cellphone use while driving contributes to many crashes. Texting is the worst, as it takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and mind away from operating the vehicle safely.
Drivers 19 years of age and younger are at the highest risk of driving with distractions, and almost half of them text or email while driving. Due to the high risk, many states have completely banned the handheld use of phones, and many make it illegal to text and drive.
According to Parents, another big distraction for parents is driving with kids in the car. Studies show that driving with babies is eight times more distracting than driving with other adults, and children are four times as distracting. Some of the disturbances related to driving with kids include:
- Handing out drinks and food to kids in the back seat
- Reaching onto the floor to retrieve a dropped toy or pacifier
- Turning on the DVD player
- Fiddling with the radio to find songs or station the kids request
- Loud screaming or crying
- Checking the phone while in a school zone
To reduce the chances of getting into an accident, parents should pull over to a safe spot while dealing with child-related issues.