Driving while distracted may significantly increase your risk of getting into an accident. Therefore, it’s important to put down your phone and ignore passengers so that your attention is focused solely on what is going on around your vehicle. It’s also important to prevent yourself from getting lost in thought while driving to your Florida vacation spot.
Adjust the controls before you leave for your destination
Changing a radio station, looking at passengers or searching for your phone are all examples of visual distractions. Instead of looking at the road, you are looking at the center console, other people or the floor of your vehicle. In a little over five seconds, your car can travel more than 100 yards. Therefore, even a simple glance to a passenger could mean not seeing a person, vehicle or object crossing into your path.
Refrain from eating or drinking while driving
Eating or drinking while your car is in motion could result in a manual distraction. A manual distraction causes you to take your hands off the wheel, which can make it harder to take evasive action. Grabbing for your phone or reaching for an object behind you could also result in taking your hands off of the steering wheel.
Why is getting lost in thought so dangerous?
If you’re thinking about your presentation at work, you can’t scan for potential hazards on the road. This is because your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. Therefore, to reduce your risk of causing a motor vehicle crash, it may be a good idea to take different routes to work or take other steps to ensure that you’re mentally engaged while driving.
As a general rule, distracted driving is considered a negligent act. Therefore, if you are hurt in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Florida law gives you four years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, most cases are resolved through settlements negotiated outside of court.