The Myth of Multitasking: Dangers of Distracted Driving
Oftentimes, when you’re driving down the road, you notice someone
in another vehicle doing something that is considered unsafe. Perhaps
they are eating some food, putting on their makeup, or one of the most
common errors, talking or texting on their cell phone. These drivers often
believe that they have no problem multitasking behind the wheel of the
car, but then they do something they shouldn’t be doing and a serious
crash occurs. This is because some of these people believe the various
myths concerning multitasking while driving. The fact is, any kind of
multitasking is considered
distracted driving, something that can present numerous dangers.
Before you take to the road, you should understand the myths of multitasking and why you should always keep your focus on the road. Don’t allow yourself to be a victim of a serious car crash when someone else is multitasking on the road. Read some facts to make sure you and everyone around you is safe.
It’s Safe to Do Things at Red Lights
So you’ve stopped the car at the red light and you want to continue putting on your makeup or check that text you received while driving. Most people think this is safe, but it isn’t. You are still diverting your attention away from the road and not focusing on the potential dangers on the road. Whether you’re sending a text or taking a second to eat your food, you can still be distracted, miss the light changing to green, and cause a car crash.
I Talk to Passengers Fine, So I Can Talk On the Phone
While you may feel that it is the same thing, it’s not. Passengers are in the vehicle with you and can help you pay attention to the road while you both talk. They can warn your of any upcoming dangers and help prevent a collision on the road. When you’re on the phone, you are interacting with someone potentially miles away who cannot see what’s in front of you and cannot warn you of issues on the road.
I Use Speech-to-Text So it’s Safe
Sure you can try to speak into your cell phone to try and send your text, but what happens when you look at the screen to make sure the spelling is correct and the right words were detected? What about when you have to read the response? These are still events that can distract you from what’s really important: making sure you are driving safely.
Hands-Free Talking is Safe to Do
While it is recommended to use hands-free devices when talking on the phone, there is still a potential for distractions, taking away your ability to recognize pedestrians or traffic light changes. If you absolutely have to make or take a phone call, the best option is to pull off to the side of the road and take your call. Your destination can wait just a bit longer.
I Can Multitask While Driving
No matter what task it is, there are always drivers who feel they can do multiple things at once while they are driving. Not only do they have to focus on driving the car, but they want to try and eat food, put on makeup, text on the phone, or look back at passengers. Even people who try to talk to someone on the phone and watch TV have trouble doing both. With much more people on the road, attempting to do this while driving is very dangerous.
If you’ve been injured because of a distracted driver, call our Florida Panhandle auto accident attorneys. The Pittman Firm, P.A. is ready to help you navigate the difficult legal matters and seek the compensation you desire.
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