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Driven to distraction behind the wheel

by Nathan Michael - Posted 2 years ago

Do you puff out your chest and brag about your superior driving abilities? Most people rate themselves as above average drivers. Many of us will frequently point fingers at others doing dumb things on the road. But take a look at some of these driving habits to see if you’re guilty of doing silly and possibly dangerous things behind the wheel.

Signs you might be a distracted driver:

Routine. Driving the same route every day can be a bad thing. When we do the same thing over and over, our brains tend to shut off. This means you’re much more likely to get distracted on your regular drive to work. Just because you think you know every bend in the road by heart, it doesn’t give you an excuse for not paying attention.

Health. If you drive while sick, your reaction times are much slower. Even if you just have a cold, a sneezing fit in the middle of a busy highway is pretty dangerous. Not to mention how distracted you are by just being worn down and focusing on how bad you feel.

Family. Driving with your kids in the car is unavoidable. However, studies show people take their eyes off the road frequently to deal with backseat disputes. Many parents even adjust their mirror to see the children rather than the traffic.

Music. Singing along with the music pumping out of your radio can certainly cause accidents. Reciting the lyrics alone shifts the brain’s focus to the song rather than the road. High tempo music makes you more likely to take chances on the road and even ignore traffic signs – not to mention how distracted drivers are when fiddling with the music, changing channels, finding that perfect driving tune.

Are you guilty of any of these distracted driver habits? Be honest. Because it’s probably pretty hard to avoid all of them completely. So the next time you point out one of those annoyingly bad drivers, perhaps you should point right back at yourself – and point that rear view mirror back at the traffic.