Driving requires your full attention and distracted driving takes you away from your principal duty of driving. Operating your vehicle while distracted endangers everyone – passengers, pedestrians and other vehicle occupants not to mention it causes accidents.
Distracted drivers are three times more likely to be involved in an accident and considering over 30% of all collisions are caused by distracted driving this is a serious problem. 
The old saying, “Driving is a privilege, not a right” comes to mind when I think of the top 10 deadliest driving distractions. We at Youngs Insurance would like to express our concern regarding distracted driving and suggest you refrain from any and all of the following while operating your vehicle.
The Top 10 Deadliest Driving Distractions;
- Smoking – including smoking, lighting up, putting ashes in tray. When reviewing crash reports involving at least one fatality – it was discovered that 1% of accidents were caused by smoking.
- Moving Objects – including pets, insects. If you have a pet you can understand how distracting they can be in a vehicle – it was suggested that around 1% of accident reports were caused by moving objects.
- Vehicle Device/Controls – including those that are integral to using a vehicle, such as adjusting your mirrors or seat. Anything that takes your attention off the road, even seemingly innocent behaviours such as these cause approximately 1% of accidents.
- Audio/Climate Controls – including switching radio stations, adjusting volume or changing the temperature accounts for 2% of fatal accidents.
- Eat/Drinking – eating or drinking while operating a motor vehicle causes 2% of distracted driving accidents.
- Devices - including reaching for a navigational GPS device or headphones account for 2% of distracted driving accidents.
- Passengers – including chatting with or looking at people in your car, causes 5% of fatal crashes.
- Outside Circumstances – including people, an object, accident or event. All of which distract a driver, taking their eyes off the task at hand – resulting in 7% of accidents.
- General Distraction – explained as “lost in thought,” daydreaming or simply not paying attention to driving. When a driver is detached from reality due to having an overwhelming day or being on “autopilot” they cause 62% of fatal distracted driving related accidents.
- Cell Phones – cell phone use including text messaging, emails, browsing the internet are the biggest cause of fatal accidents. Most Provinces and States have implemented sever fines for individuals who partake in cell phone use while operating their vehicle.
Considering distracted drivers cause over four million accidents each year in North America it is essential we refrain from engaging in this fatal behaviour. If you have any questions regarding distracted driving please contact your Youngs Insurance Broker today for more information.
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