Distracted Driving: It’s More Than Just Texting

The Many Faces of Distracted Driving

We all know texting while driving is dangerous. But distracted driving has evolved far beyond glancing at your phone. Today's drivers face more distractions than ever before, and many don't even realize they're putting themselves and others at risk.

Modern vehicles are packed with technology designed to make our lives easier: touchscreens, navigation systems, voice assistants, and entertainment centers. Ironically, these features for safety and convenience can make driving more dangerous.

The problem has grown so significant that distracted driving now rivals drunk driving as a leading cause of accidents. Yet many drivers don't recognize when they're distracted because it feels so routine.

Beyond the Phone: Common Distractions You Might Not Consider

In-Car Technology

Modern car dashboards tend to look more like airplane cockpits than the simple controls of decades past. While impressive, all that technology creates new ways to take your eyes off the road.

• Touchscreen controls: Unlike physical buttons that you can adjust by feel, touchscreens force you to look away from traffic. Whether you're adjusting the radio, setting the temperature, or entering a GPS destination, those seconds add up fast.
• Voice assistants: Hands-free technology sounds safer, but it still divides your attention. You're thinking about commands, listening for responses, and correcting mistakes when the system misunderstands you.
• Infotainment systems: From scrolling through music apps to connecting Bluetooth to browsing radio stations, these systems demand both visual and mental focus that should be on the road.
  

Food and Beverages

That morning coffee or drive-thru breakfast might seem harmless, but eating and drinking behind the wheel means juggling your attention. You're unwrapping food, managing napkins, trying not to spill, all while keeping one hand off the wheel.

Hot beverages create an even bigger risk. One unexpected swerve or bump can send scalding liquid into your lap, and your instinct to react can mean losing control of the vehicle.

Personal Grooming

We've all seen someone applying makeup or fixing their hair in the rearview mirror during their commute. You may have even done it yourself. When you're running late, it's tempting to use that drive time to get ready. But putting on mascara or lipstick at highway speeds means you're driving blind for dangerous stretches of time.

Passengers

Conversations with passengers naturally pull your focus, especially when emotions run high. Parents know this struggle intimately. When your toddler drops a toy or siblings start fighting in the backseat, every instinct tells you to turn around and deal with it. But that's exactly when you need to keep your eyes forward.

Pets in the Car

That dog sitting on your lap or moving around the car freely is a major distraction and safety hazard. Pets can block your view, interfere with pedals, or cause you to take your hands off the wheel. Even well-behaved pets can suddenly move or react to something outside the car.

Daydreaming

Sometimes the biggest distraction comes from inside your own head. Have you ever arrived at your destination with no memory of the drive? That's your brain on autopilot, and it means you weren't actively watching for hazards or preparing to react to changing conditions.

This kind of mental drift happens most on routes you drive regularly or during long stretches of highway. Your conscious mind wanders off to work problems or personal concerns while your subconscious handles the basics. But if something unexpected happens, the basics may not be enough.

Other Distractions

Even necessary activities can pull your attention at the wrong moment. Adjusting to sudden sun glare, reaching for something that fell, or craning your neck to see an accident as you pass by all take your focus away from what's ahead.

Rubbernecking at accident scenes is particularly dangerous because it causes chain reactions. One driver slows to look, forcing everyone behind them to brake suddenly, and before you know it, there's a second crash.

Why This Matters in Minnesota

Minnesota's roads demand extra attention year-round. The weather here can change fast, and when it does, you need every fraction of a second to react. Winter brings ice and reduced visibility, spring means flooding and construction zones, summer thunderstorms can turn roads slick in minutes, and fall brings early darkness and wet leaves.

The roads that feel safe one moment can turn hazardous the next, while drivers continue their usual habits, checking phones and adjusting controls as if conditions are always ideal.

Rural Minnesota brings its own set of challenges. Mile after mile of empty highway makes it easy to zone out, but that's when you're most vulnerable. A deer can dart across the road, or a tractor can appear around a bend in an instant. These roads demand constant attention, even when they feel monotonous.

How to Protect Yourself and Others

The good news is that distracted driving is completely preventable. It comes down to building better habits and recognizing that a few seconds of convenience isn't worth the risk.

Before You Start Driving

Before you shift into drive, address everything that might pull your attention away later. Set your GPS destination, adjust mirrors and seats, and select whatever music or podcast you want to hear. Place your phone somewhere you can't easily reach it, keeping it out of sight and out of mind.

If you're hungry, either eat before you leave or plan to eat when you arrive at your destination. The same goes for kids and pets. Get them settled with whatever they need before the car starts moving.

While Driving

Once you're driving, the rule is simple: If something needs your attention, pull over. Trying to multitask just means you're doing two things poorly when one of them could hurt someone.

Your passengers can handle navigation or fiddling with controls. Heated conversations can wait until you're parked. And your phone? It stays untouched, even at red lights.

What to Do If You're in an Accident

Even if you're a cautious driver, you can't control the behavior of others on the road. If you're in a crash with a distracted driver, take these steps:

1. Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine. Some injuries don't show symptoms right away, but could still be serious in the long run.
2. Call the police and make sure an official accident report is filed.
3. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, vehicle damage, and any visible distractions in the other vehicle.
4. Get contact information from witnesses who saw the accident.
5. Don't admit fault or discuss details with the other driver's insurance company before consulting an attorney.
6. Keep records of all medical treatments, expenses, and how the injuries affect your daily life.
7. Contact an experienced car accident injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights and guide you through the claims process.

Staying Safe Behind the Wheel

Distracted driving goes far beyond texting. It includes any behavior that takes your attention away from driving safely. The temptation to multitask is everywhere, but the consequences simply aren't worth it.

Every time you get behind the wheel, you're responsible for your safety and the safety of everyone else on the road. That responsibility deserves your full attention.

The next time you're tempted to check a notification, grab a snack, or adjust something while driving, ask yourself if it can wait. It almost always can. Nothing is worth risking lives for a few seconds of convenience.

Stay focused, drive safely, and remember that experienced legal help is available if a distracted driver causes you harm.

Know Your Rights After a Distracted Driving Accident

When a distracted driver causes you harm, Minnesota law recognizes that you deserve compensation for your losses. The driver made a choice to prioritize something else over safety, and they should be held accountable.

At SiebenCarey, we've represented Minnesota accident victims for over 70 years. We know how to investigate distracted driving cases, gathering evidence like phone records and witness statements that prove the other driver was at fault. We understand the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts, and we know how to counter them effectively.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay us anything unless we win your case. This allows you to focus on your recovery while we handle the legal complexities.

Been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver?

Contact SiebenCarey for a free consultation. Call 1-800-4-RIGHTS or visit knowyourrights.com. No fees unless you win.