Distracted Driving Is a Serious Problem

Distracted driving is not a new phenomenon – we have been dealing with this issue ever since the car was invented. For decades, drivers have been distracted by eating or drinking, grooming, checking a map, fiddling with the radio, intense conversations with passengers and mental preoccupation with personal or professional issues.

Unfortunately, the digital age has multiplied the hazards: cell phones, texting and navigational devices have taken the level of distraction to new and more dangerous heights.

There are three major types of distractions: 

• Visual (taking your eyes off the road)
• Manual (taking your hands off the wheel)
• Mental (taking your mind off the complex task of driving)

All distractions are important and when a person experiences all three at the same time, the risk of an accident occurring multiplies exponentially.

Texting is by far the most dangerous distraction while driving. Statistics show that drivers who are texting are twenty times more likely to crash than non-distracted drivers. Think of it this way: the time it takes for you to send a text while driving is equivalent to covering the distance of a football field! Since texting involves visual and mental attention, it’s easy to see why it can be such a dangerous activity.

Talking on a cell phone may not be as hazardous as texting, especially if you use a headset or a speaker phone – but that doesn’t mean it is safe. Studies show that drivers who talk on cell phones are four times likely to have an accident than non-distracted drivers. Using hand-held cell phones involves visual distraction while dialling, manual distraction while holding the phone and mental distraction throughout.

Please remember that driving is a demanding and potentially hazardous activity. It is not a time for multitasking. Focus on the task ahead and ensure you arrive safely to your destination.

To speak with a licensed McDougall Insurance professional about our various options for auto insurance coverage, please call us at 1-800-361-0941.