Don’t Wait Until There’s a Wreck
Distracted driving is a big problem. A study done by Car and Driver Magazine showed that texting or reading emails while driving actually delayed reaction times much longer than driving while intoxicated. While drunk driving still claims more lives than distracted driving, driving while focused on anything except the road is still deadly. Today, the Car Crash Captain is going to lay out some of the telltale signs of a distracted driver – remember, not all distractions come from a phone.
What are Distracted Drivers Doing?
The majority of distracted drivers are fiddling with their phones. They’re texting, sending emails, Snapchatting, Tweeting, Instagraming, or a host of other things that one does with their cell phone instead of paying attention to their driving. But it’s not just fiddling with the phone, distractions include:
- Doing make-up or grooming
- Talking or arguing with passengers
- Messing with the radio or GPS
- Eating and drinking
- Tending to children
- Picking up things that have been dropped
- Anything that takes your focus off the road
These distractions may vary in how distracting they are, but the bottom line is when your entire focus isn’t on the road, you’re setting yourself up for a crash.
How to Spot Distracted Drivers
To spot those distracted drivers out there, watch for anything that doesn’t seem like smooth and consistent driving.
Delayed Reaction at Lights – At a red light people think it’s a great time to reply to a text. But most light cycles only last 30-60 seconds and when it changes to green people are expected to go immediately.
Weaving and Drifting – When the focus isn’t on the road, vehicles tend to “wander” around the lane. If you see a car swerving, they’re likely distracted or impaired.
Frequent Speed Changes – Speeding up quickly, slowing down below the speed limit, or varying often along the drive is a sign the driver isn’t paying attention.
Visibly Moving Around – There’s little reason another driver should be making large movements while driving. If you can see them moving and reaching, they’re not focusing on the road as much as they should.
Near Misses – Hard braking when coming to a stop, nearly side-swiping another rig, wide (or close cut) turns, can all be signs that the driver isn’t watching what they’re doing.
Looking Down – It’s not hard to spot someone that’s constantly looking at their lap while sending a text. They think they’re being sneaky, but they might as well hold the phone up high and at least get a peripheral view of the road.
No Turn Signals – Drivers that are distracted forget the basics of safe driving; including using their signals.
Anything Else “Off” – It’s easy to see a good driver. They brake consistently with room to spare, they speed up steadily, they maintain their speed, signal, and don’t come close to hitting things. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.
What Happens if You See a Distracted Driver?
Distracted driving doesn’t mean on the phone. Impaired driving doesn’t mean drunk. Neither are safe, and you don’t want to be driving near someone that’s distracted, impaired, or even having a medical issue that causes them to lose control.
If you notice the telltale signs of someone not driving safely, keep your distance. If something happens, you don’t want to be close to them. Get in the other lane so if they slam on their brakes, you’re not right behind them. Drive safely, don’t forget your basic driving skills while wondering why they forgot theirs. Finally, don’t road rage. Getting angry, honking, tailgating, or trying to get them to stop being distracted will only distract them further.
If things seem bad, or if you suspect impairment, contact law enforcement. Get a plate number, location, and vehicle description and call it in. You could be preventing a fatal accident by speaking up.
How does Herbert Law Group Help with Distracted Driving Accidents?
If you don’t catch the signs, or you just don’t see the distracted driver before they slam into you, you need a car wreck lawyer on your side.
Herbert Law Group helps to protect the innocent victims of distracted driving accidents. We’ll fight for you, so you receive compensation that covers your injuries and losses now, and anything that comes up later in life.
Let’s talk about what happened. Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll contact you about your free consultation.