Cellphones are clearly a driving distraction. There’s a reason that regulations have been changed over the years and drivers are told never to go on the phone behind the wheel.
Missouri actually has rather lenient laws, compared to other states, but still bans texting and driving for commercial drivers and those who are under 21. Many other states have banned the practice entirely, for all drivers, regardless of their age or the type of vehicle.
But it’s also important to remember that cell phones are not the only distraction that drivers face. There are many other things that can cause accidents, even if a driver thinks that they are being attentive and staying off of the phone.
Examples of other distractions
Essentially, anything that you can think of that takes a person’s attention away from driving is a serious distraction. But, for the sake of simplicity, here are some distinct examples below:
- Eating or drinking in the car
- Talking to passengers
- Turning on the music
- Adjusting the mirrors
- Adjusting the seat
- Dealing with pets
- Talking to children
- Reading a map or using the GPS
- Reading billboards and looking at street signs
In fact, one distraction that causes a lot of accidents every year is simply daydreaming. A driver doesn’t even have to be doing something to be distracted. If they’re not thinking about driving, that’s a distraction enough to cause an accident.
Have you been injured in a crash?
You can avoid distractions whenever possible, but you do have to share the road with other drivers who may be distracted at any moment. If you get injured in a crash caused by one of these drivers, take the time to carefully consider your legal options.