Illinois Personal Injury Attorneys Represent Injured Motorists
Northlake, IL Law Firm Handles Cases Involving Distracted Driving
Hands-free devices often are often seen as a solution to the risks of distracted driving because they help eliminate the visual risks (looking away from the road) and the manual ones (removing one’s hands from the wheel). However, the third type of driver distraction can occur related to cell phone use – cognitive (taking your mind off the road).
Focusing on Distraction
The human brain cannot perform two tasks at the same time. Instead, the brain handles tasks sequentially by switching between them. Because the brain can juggle tasks very rapidly, this leads many to falsely believe that they are doing two tasks at the same time. However, the brain is switching attention between tasks, but the body is actually performing only one task at a time.
A person who talks on a cellphone or sends a text while driving can’t focus completely on either activity. While the brain is shifting focus from one thing to the other, it becomes overloaded, resulting in slower reaction time and reduced driving performance, and even if your device is out of your hand, it’s still occupying vital space in your mind.
Eliminating Distracted Driving
The best way to avoid distracted driving is to change the way you think about driving by doing the following:
- Never text, email, or talk on the phone while driving.
- Inform family and friends that you won’t be answering your phone or texting while you drive.
- Don’t call or text anyone else who is driving.
- Never use your phone when children are in the car.
- Look up the directions before you start driving and pull over to check your GPS.
Hands-free devices won’t solve the distracted driving problem – driving requires our full attention.
Contact an Experienced Northlake, IL Auto Accident Law Firm Today
Were you seriously injured in a crash caused by a distracted driver? For competent legal advice, contact the personal injury attorneys at Kelly Law Offices online or call 1-800-859-8800 to schedule your free initial consultation today.
