on the road. A driver may be distracted in several ways that can lead to an auto accident. Common driver distractions can be labeled with three different categories.

• Cognitive
• Visual
• Manual

Cognitive driver distractions are anything that takes your mind off the road. There is a dangerous risk of a car accident if your mind is not on driving even though your eyes are on the road. A few cognitive distractions include:

• Thinking about work
• Listening to a favorite song
• Being engaged in a conversation
• Hygiene maintenance such as shaving or brushing teeth

Visual driver distractions are anything that takes your eyes off the road. Shifting your visual attention from the road for a split second may cause you to miss a serious event that may lead to an accident. Common visual distractions are:

• Reading
• Looking at a map
• Looking at a car accident
• Watching portable DVD players
• Viewing the scenery

Manual driver distractions are anything that takes your hands off the steering wheel. It is difficult to properly control a vehicle with only one hand and impossible to control the vehicle with both hands absent from the wheel. Several manual driver distractions are:

• Eating
• Adjusting the radio
• Talking on a cell phone without a hands free set
• Picking up a dropped item
• Taking off a coat

Driver distractions may occur inside or outside the vehicle. Your actions as well as the actions of anyone inside or outside your vehicle may cause you to be distracted. A fellow passenger may take your attention from the road by speaking to you or by trying to show you something. Someone outside the car may honk their horn, yell, or run into the street.

Other outside distractions may be:

• Construction work
• Detours
• Car accidents and emergency vehicles
• Stop-and-go traffic
• Pedestrians

It does not matter what type of distraction causes the accident. A car accident may cause personal injury to someone you love or someone in another vehicle. It is very important to know what may distract a driver and take the necessary steps to avoid this distraction.