Road Safety: 5 Signs of a Distracted Driver

Road safety is an important issue for Coastline Academy. Our mission is to eradicate car crashes and one of the largest culprits in vehicle accidents is distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,308 deaths in 2022 due to distracted drivers. While we as drivers can alter our own habits so we do not drive distracted, we unfortunately cannot control what other drivers do on the road. Your best preventative measure when dealing with other distracted drivers is to know the signs and behaviors of inattentive driving and how to best react while you are on the road.

Different Types of Distracted Driving

First things first - what is distracted driving? When it comes to this topic, most people think of drivers using their phones while behind the wheel. However, there are many factors and many types of distractions that can lead to dangerous driving behaviors. These can be broken down into the following three categories:

1. Cognitive: A cognitive distraction is one where the driver's attention is diverted to any other task besides driving. Cognitive distractions may include daydreaming, emotional conversations with other passengers, or singing along loudly with the radio.
2. Manual: A manual distraction is one where the driver physically takes their hands off the wheel to perform another task. Manual distractions often go hand-in-hand with cognitive distractions. Manual distractions may include eating, changing the dashboard controls, texting, and grabbing a cup of coffee.
3. Visual: A visual distraction is one where the driver takes their eyes off the road. Examples of visual distractions include checking GPS, looking at another passenger, or rubbernecking (staring at an accident scene as you drive by).

Signs of a Distracted Driver

Now that you know the distraction types, it's time to focus on ways you can spot a distracted driver on the road with you.

1. Drinking or Eating

One of the more common forms of distracted driving is eating or drinking behind the wheel. You may know a driver is distracted if you can see them eating or drinking something while behind the wheel. Remember, eating and drinking is a manual distraction - that driver may not have full control of their car.

2. Failing to Maintain a Consistent Speed

While driving, if you see another driver that is speeding up and slowing down in an erratic fashion it's probably because that driver is too distracted to maintain a steady speed. Failure to maintain a consistent speed may be due to any number of distractions, but its likely the driver's focus is not on the road or speed limit. Be sure to give these drivers a wide berth on the road.

3. Personal Interactions

If you see a driver having exaggerated personal interactions with another passenger in their car, they might be distracted. Excited or upset children may cause the driver to take their eyes off the road, or even the wheel. An argument with another passenger may see the driver becoming too distracted to concentrate on what's ahead. Whatever the cause, be on the lookout for these types of behaviors and be ready to react quickly.

4. Looking Down or Bent-Over Posture

Is the driver behind you bent over or looking at their lap? There's a good chance that means they are on their cell phone, especially if you can see the illumination of the phone's screen at night. Even if the other driver is not on their phone, they might be trying to pick something up from the floor even be showing signs of sleepiness if their posture is crumpled in this manner. These drivers are likely distracted, and it is up to you to scan the environment and identify points of exit in case of erratic driving behavior.

5. Hitting the Brakes Suddenly and Frequently

One of the best ways to spot a distracted driver if that driver is hitting the brakes suddenly and frequently. A normal driver is focused on the road and starting and stopping normally, with the flow of traffic. Someone not paying attention to the road will need to slam on their brakes repeatedly due to the fact they are not paying attention to what is going on in front of them. Make sure to leave ample space between yourself and that car if you find yourself in a similar situation.

When on the road, always keep an eye out for these types of behaviors. Remember, drivers who exhibit the signs of inattentive driving may not only be distracted, but may also be dangerously sleepy, or even intoxicated. If a driver is repeatedly maneuvering their vehicle in a dangerous fashion, it's best to pull over to avoid a potential crash. If the situation is severe enough, you may also consider contacting local authorities.

Want to learn more about distracted driving? Enroll in a Coastline online driver's education course today!