The phrase “distracted driving” is all but synonymous with mobile device use. People assume that distracted drivers who cause crashes texted or otherwise handled a mobile phone while driving. There’s little question that digital distraction is a major safety concern. Drivers who text, dial their phones or scroll through social media can very easily cause crashes. They may look away from the road for multiple seconds and take their hands off the wheel at the same time.
However, there are many other equally dangerous sources of distraction that people sometimes overlook. Distracted driving can easily occur in scenarios where people completely ignore their phones. In fact, drivers that people may think of as among the safest may actually be the most prone to distraction.
Passengers are a top source of distraction
The other people in a vehicle can be a major source of distraction, especially when the driver is responsible for those people. Many people think of parents as some of the safest drivers. Those who have young children in their vehicles tend to be very careful about how they handle their vehicles.
However, their child passengers can potentially be a dangerous source of distraction while driving. Parents feel compelled to intervene when their children argue or to try to calm the screaming toddler in the backseat. They may reach to grab a bottle or pacifier that a child threw or may try to make eye contact with their school-age child as they talk on the way to school. Parents can easily become very distracted because of the children in their vehicles.
Anyone else driving with passengers is also at risk of distraction. Teenagers may be particularly susceptible to passenger distraction when they have multiple peers in the vehicle with them as they drive. People generally need to limit how much they focus their attention on their passengers in order to ensure optimal safety in traffic.
Those involved in distracted driving crashes may need to communicate their concerns to police officers. Informing officers of sources of distraction other than digital devices can lead to a more accurate crash report and a better chance of obtaining compensation after a wreck. Even if the source of harmful distraction wasn’t digital, a driver could be liable for dividing their attention while driving.
