Mental distractions are still distractions

Distracted driving can take many different forms. The cliche is texting and driving, but it’s not the only type of distraction. It’s also distracting to talk to your children or try to eat your lunch while you drive to work.

That said, people often think about physical distractions or visual distractions. They think about taking their hands off of the wheel or looking away from the road. And it’s certainly true that these are the two big categories of distractions, but it’s important to remember that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also note that mental distractions can play a role in driving abilities.

What is an example of a mental distraction?

Mental distractions essentially mean that the driver is not fully committed to thinking about driving. They may be looking forward and holding the wheel, but their mind is wandering.

In a lot of cases, drivers are just daydreaming. Maybe they’ve been on the road for a long time, and they’re bored. In other cases, drivers just have a lot going on in their lives, and they’re trying to work through some of that while they drive. For instance, someone who’s in the midst of a divorce may spend most of their alone time thinking about what steps they need to take to get through that divorce.

The big problem with these types of distractions is that they’re very hard to identify and avoid. Thoughts are just going to come up when someone is behind the wheel, and they’re going to be distracted even if they’re trying to pay attention. This means that they can cause some serious accidents, and all those who are injured in these crashes need to know if they have a right to compensation.