Distracted driving: Know the 3 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 around to look at someone in the back seat.)
Manual, causing you to take your hands off the wheel. (Examples: Eating or using your cellphone, etc.)
Cognitive, causing you to take your mind off the task of driving safely. (Example: Daydreaming.)

So, 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. 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.

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

Go to nsc.org/justdrive to find more information on distracted driving.