There are three broad categories of distractions that affect driving concentration. A visual distraction causes the motorist to take his/her eyes off the road. A manual distraction results in the driver taking his/her hands off the steering wheel. A cognitive distraction takes the driver's thoughts off the task at hand. Driving distractions often involve all three areas.
Cell phones are an obvious driving distraction, but motorists contend with countless others every time they get behind the steering wheel. Some distractions come from within the vehicle. These are activities like fine tuning temperature and audio controls, reading panel displays or navigational devices, snacking, talking to passengers, tending to children or pets, adjusting electronic devices, grooming and countless more. Other distractions are external disruptions that come from road signs, billboard displays, construction work, scenery and fellow travelers. Daydreaming and drowsiness also cause drivers to lose focus.
It is impossible to eliminate driving distractions altogether There are, however, things motorists can do to reduce the risk. Consider the following ideas.
Avoid using the cell phone, take proactive steps to minimize driving distractions whenever possible and remain fully focused on every trip.