What They Don't Teach You in High School

11 Driver Distractions Did you know that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens? And when it comes to distracted driving, young people are among the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel. That is because distractions are everywhere. Whether you think so or not, driving is a skill that requires your full attention to control your car and respond to events happening on the roads around you. According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 80% of crashes and 65% of near crashes involve some form of driver distraction. Driving involves constant and complex coordination between your mind and body. Events or things that prevent you from operating your car safely are distractions. There are three main types of distractions: • T aking your eyes off the road (visual) • Taking your mind of the road or what you’re doing (cognitive) • Taking your hands off the steering wheel (manual) Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in while operating a motor vehicle. Such activities have the potential to distract the person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. Make sure to call out your friends and even your parents, if you see them using a cell phone behind the wheel. Remind them all "One Text or Call Could Wreck It All”. Besides using electronic gadgets, distractions also can include adjusting a radio, eating and drinking, reading, grooming, and interacting with passengers. When you are driving the condition of the roadway and the behavior of other drivers can change abruptly, leaving you little or no time to react. When you are driving, follow these rules: • Stay focused, pay attention, and expect the unexpected. Keep your eyes on the road!