A recent study revealed that in the last quarter of 2023, there were about 288 million vehicles playing the roads of America. With this staggering amount of cars on American roads, one wonders how everyone gets around so fast, ignoring the usual traffic jams. However, there are consequences due to the high number of cars on American roads, which is that statistically there are over 36,000 car crashes across the United States every year.
Without putting the number of deaths into perspective, it needs to be said that something needs to be done about it. A good place to start would be to take into account the seven major causes or distractions of accidents in Pennsylvania. Keep reading to find out more about these distractions.
What Are the Major Distractions Experts Say Cause Accidents in Pennsylvania?
Here are seven major distractions believed to cause accidents by experts:
- Using Your Cell Phone
Cell phones are, without a doubt, one of the biggest distractions to a person in their daily life, and this influence stretches to driving. It is common to want to check your GPS to ensure you are not lost or check a new notification.
Picking up your phone is now considered a natural impulse, which should be discouraged when driving. This is why many cellphone makers advise the use of the hands-free mode, ensuring you do not have to touch your device when driving.
- Reaching for Objects
This distraction involves reaching for an object other than the steering and the gear. Picking up your phone or any other fallen object can cause you to take your hands off the steering. This can be a huge distraction when you need to make a swerve that usually requires two free hands from the driver.
- Eating and Drinking
Eating and drinking while driving is, under many country laws, illegal. This is simply because it can distract the driver manually and cause an accident. You should park and do your eating and drinking business rather than drive while eating. Your hands and eyes should stay on the steering and the road, respectively.
- Daydreaming
The mind wanders when it can, and not many people know how to stop it. In fact, daydreaming is a common cognitive distraction. However, if this occurs when driving, it could take your concentration off the road for some moments, which is usually just enough to cause an accident. Practice mindful exercises to ensure your concentration is always top-notch when driving.
- Listening to Audio
Many people believe listening is not necessary when driving. However, one wonders why people turn down the radio or other audio when there is a need to make a key decision when driving. The truth is, listening is quite important as it helps you stay alert. Audio can be quite engaging, which means reducing your concentration. Hence, it is vital that your focus is on the road and your vehicle always.
- Staring at Objects Outside the Car
Looking into your car’s windscreen is expected of every driver, but what if something tickles your visual fancy? You will surely have to take a look, and not everyone has trained themselves to ignore distracting looks while driving. The bottom line is that try not to get distracted while driving. Taking your eyes off the road could prove to be more fatal than you ever thought.
- Personal Grooming
This does not need to be said, but you should not be checking how well-combed your hair is while driving. You can always do that before and after driving but not during. You could park at a good spot and check yourself out but do not do this while driving. The risks far outweigh the positives.
Conclusion
Many car accidents are a result of the aforementioned distractions, and it usually affects more than the driver who caused it. “If you are involved in an accident and it has altered your way of life, you should consider ways to get compensation,” says attorney Jeffrey P. Lowenthal from Lowenthal & Abrams.
Source: Lowenthal & Abrams
