Although traffic has reduced because of COVID-19, the roadways are still dangerous. On a normal day, about 700 people are still injured because of distracted driving or driver fatigue. Talking on your cell phone, messing with your radio, or driving without adequate sleep can not only cause harm to yourself but others around you.

Below are some things that can cause distracted driving and how driver fatigue can impact your driving skills. Keep yourself and others safe on the road and focus on driving.

What is Distracted Driving

Being alert and attentive can help lower the risk of an accident that could lead to injury or death. In the United States, cell phones are extremely popular, and distracted driving has been an ongoing hot topic regarding traffic safety. Distracted driving occurs when any task takes over the importance of staying focused on the road, such as talking on the phone, texting, watching videos, or distracting passengers. Examples of distracted behaviors include:

• Texting

• Using a cell phone for any task

• Eating or drinking

• Grooming

• Reading (including maps)

• Using GPS

• Watching a video

• Adjusting the radio

• Smoking

• Talking to other passengers

Consequences of Distracted Driving

There are three different types of distractions, including visual, manual, and cognitive. Our brains are not able to perform two cognitive tasks at the same time. This means driving and talking on a cell phone. Below are a few consequences that can occur from distracted driving.

• Those using a cell phone while driving are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash. In about 1 out of 4 car accidents, it has been found that cell phones were involved.

• According to the National Safety Council, about 26% of car accidents were caused by hand-held devices and hands-free phones. Hands-free is not considered risk-free.

• Sending email or text messages while operating a vehicle removes your eyes, hands, and mind away from the road resulting in a higher risk of being involved in an accident.

• Those who text and drive are 8 to 23 times or likely to be involved in a car crash and be the ones who caused it.

• Distracted driving is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Using a cell phone while driving reduces your brain activity that is associated with driving by 37%.

• While driving, sending a text or email message draws a driver’s eyes, mind, and hands away from the road.

Driver Fatigue

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that more than one-third of United States adults say they get less than seven hours of sleep a day. Fatigue or drowsy driving is when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle feeling tired or sleepy.

However, drowsy driving is not just because you did not get enough sleep. Drowsy or fatigued driving can be because of other situations such as an untreated or undiagnosed sleep disorder, alcohol consumption, medications, or disruption in sleep because of shift work.

How Driver Fatigue Impacts Driving

Driver fatigue can be dangerous. Driving without adequate sleep can cause several impacts on your ability to drive, including the following:

• Slowed reaction time

• Impaired balance

• Increased distraction

• Impaired judgment

• Impaired memory

• Impaired creativity

• Increased risk of automatic behavior

• Increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel

How to Avoid Driver Fatigue?

There are ways you can avoid driver fatigue. When you step behind the wheel of a vehicle, knowing you are not in the best shape to drive, you increase your chances of being involved and causing a car accident. By avoiding driver fatigue, you are not only saving your life but others around you.

To avoid driver fatigue, follow these tips below:

• Re-evaluate your sleep schedule

• Eat healthily

• Limit alcohol and caffeine

• Stay hydrated

• Pay attention to your surroundings

While these are just tips to avoid driver fatigue and driver distraction, this article is not intended to be medical advice. If you are concerned about your medical condition or need treatment, you should contact your physician.

While driving, our responsibility is to keep ourselves and others safe by reducing driving fatigue and driver distraction. Please do your part and keep our roadways safe.