Distracted driving: Know the three types

At least eight people are killed every day in distracted driving-related crashes.

That’s according to the National Safety Council, which observes Distracted Driving Awareness Month every April.

The council says the three types of distracted driving are:
Visual, causing you to take your eyes off the road. (Example: Turning to look at a child in the back seat.)
Manual, causing you to take your hands off the wheel. (Examples: Putting on makeup, eating, using your cellphone, etc.)
Cognitive, causing you to take your mind off the task of driving. (Example: Daydreaming.)

How can you avoid driving distracted?

Before setting out, adjust your car’s side mirrors and rearview mirror. Pick what you want to listen to before you begin driving. If you’ll be using GPS, enter the address of where you’re going and check the route so you have an idea of where you’re going and can keep your eyes on the road.

When you’re driving, don’t multitask. Your hands need to always be on the wheel when driving.

If you do need to make a call or help a child in the back seat, make sure you pull over in a safe, well-lit location.

Go to nsc.org/justdrive to find additional information about distracted driving.