Dangerous Distractions Behind the Wheel
We're all familiar with the dangers of distracted--including texting while driving, chatting on the phone, messing around with the radio, eating and/or drinking, and everything else that causes your hands to come off the steering wheel and taking your attention off the road.
Here at Service King Perrin Beitel in San Antonio, TX we know that distracted driving is a worldwide problem and that's why we often blog about it and how it can be prevented in the future. So, here is our list of 4 distractions that can cause accidents when people fall prey to distracted driving:
Music that is too loud!
We all love to pull out our favorite tunes while cruising along the road with the windows down, but loud music is one of the leading issues associated with distracted driving. It's bad enough, but when people choose to sing along is even more dangerous! Having your radio turned up not only pulls away more of your focus when you do a sing-along and also prevents you from being able to hear some important sounds all around you. The honking of vehicle horns, the blare of an emergency automobile, the screech of tires and squeaking brakes are all of these important sounds that will be blocked out if you play your music too loud and decide to turn your car into a karaoke lounge.
Attention-Getting Scenery
While taking a road trip of any length through some of our country's most amazing spots is fun and exhilarating, those same breathtaking locations can also prove to be potentially very dangerous. Whenever you take your attention off the roadway for a moment and focus on things like magnificent waterfalls and majestic mountains instead, it's easy to inadvertently swerve into another lane, miss a bend in the roadway or hit another car. The solution is easy--pay less attention to your surroundings and keep your hands on the wheel. If you want to see the beautiful sights out there, pull over promptly and get out of your vehicle instead of trying it while you're driving.
Way Too Much Conversation
We’re not saying you should isolate yourself in your vehicle, or put duct tape over your passengers’ mouths. But when you pay more attention to your friends than to the other autos around you, the risk for a crash increases exponentially. As human beings, we often want to look at someone who's speaking to us, thereby causing the even greater hazard of removing your eyes off the roadway ahead of us. Don't ever compromise your mental concentration by talking, because too much conversation is enough of a hidden distraction to cause severe danger to yourself, as well as a friend who simply won’t stop chatting away.
Other Mental Distractions
Most drivers can easily associate distracted driving with extreme anger and/or sadness, and many people know not to put themselves behind the wheel if you’re either too emotionally or mentally distracted. However, it's equally as dangerous to be on the road if your mind is somewhere else, or if your inner monologue is constantly running like a script. Maybe you have a lengthy list of things to do at your job, which is causing you major stress. Perhaps you are replaying a conversation in your head over and over that you have recently had or you’re rehearsing your speech for a large proposal you have coming up at your job. Any of these scenarios can be a significant distraction and keep your attention away from the road in front of you.
Service King Perrin Beitel in San Antonio, TX 78217
Sources: NHTSA and Insurance Journal
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