{"id":11845,"date":"2017-07-18T14:30:17","date_gmt":"2017-07-18T19:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.terrybryant.com\/?p=11845"},"modified":"2020-03-05T11:54:50","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T16:54:50","slug":"distracted-driving-goes-beyond-texting-cell-phones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.terrybryant.com\/blogs\/distracted-driving-goes-beyond-texting-cell-phones","title":{"rendered":"Distracted Driving Goes Beyond Texting on Cell Phones"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\tWe all know that distraction is one of the biggest hazards on our roads. There are constant debates by lawmakers and safety advocates over texting-while-driving laws. But we should remember that texting represents only one form of distracted driving<\/a>.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

For example, AAA estimates that around 60%<\/a> of moderate-to-severe teen crashes involve distracted driving, but cell phone use isn\u2019t the leading cause of teen driver distraction. \u201cToo many passengers\u201d is listed as the leading cause of distraction-related teen crashes. Taking on too many passengers in a vehicle can take a driver\u2019s focus off the road and make a crash much more likely.<\/p>\n

This statistic might come as a surprise, but it highlights the fact that distraction encompasses many different things and that communicating on cell phones is just one part of the challenge facing drivers.<\/p>\n

Other Ways Drivers are Distracted<\/h2>\n

There are three ways in which drivers can be distracted – visually (eyes are not on the road), cognitively (mind is not on the task of driving), and physically (hands are not on the wheel). One of the main reasons that cell phones can be so hazardous is because they often involve all three types of distraction. But we can be distracted by many other things, too.<\/p>\n

Any of these tasks might cause distraction if done behind the wheel:<\/strong><\/p>\n