Distracted driving: Acute cause of accidents
CONVENTIONAL thinking has always pointed at excessive speed, drunk-driving and at times unroadworthy vehicles as the principal causes of traf ic accidents be they serious or even fatal. No one who has been on the road as a spectator, or wrongful driver can deny that. However, all road users have hardly thought out and expressed that, ‘distracted driving’, is actually the principal cause of most, if not all traf ic accidents. Every driver, now and then has had their attention taken off the road and its vicinity either mentally or physically. They just drive without appraising any potential and actual hazard on the road. For that reason, most drivers are involved in accidents they hadn’t seen coming; which would have been avoided had they not been distracted while behind the wheel. Here are some causes of distraction for drivers that can cause serious accidents:
Red mist- This is a serious mentally state of the driver who is not objectively driving his vehicle because he is under pressure to achieve a certain goal in a short space of time. This can also cover road rage where the said driver is intent to pursue and catch up with another motorist in an altercation. That kind of driver will be extremely distracted in that they will not be paying attention of any sign, hazard or other vehicles in traf ic. The speed at which their cars will be driving is an ultimate result of their red mist. Red mist may also be a result of a driver who is eager to reach their destination because they feel they are late. This lot would run through red lights, overtake wrongly and at the most inopportune of times excessively speed and tailgate other motorists.
DISTRACTION
Distraction may also occur as a result of a stressed and angry driver whose mind is occupied by occurrences away from the traf ic vicinity. Such drivers are dangerous in traf ic because they can even easily hit other vehicles from behind because they are not even aware of their presence in front of them.
The cellphone-Until drivers are involved in an accident as a result of texting or chatting while they drive they wouldn’t be aware how the dangerous the habit is. It is a given that almost all drivers will use their cellphones while driving even if such indulgence is not compelled by an emergency. It is such an unpalatable driving habit Keep focus on the road at all times Don’t multitask as you drive Don’t chat, and text on your cellphone as you drive Leave early to arrive safely Kill your speed before you are killed or kill someone in traffic
‘Switching off the tap before mopping the floor.’
that distracts the driver and disturbs other road users he shares the traf ic space with. Such drivers for instance, would hardly check their mirrors to see the queue in traf ic they would have caused by being so slow while attending to their cellphones. Fellow drivers would be frustrated that they would even overtake dangerously, causing unnecessary accidents. Also avoid multitasking as you drive, for an example, changing music disks while driving.