Drivers must pay attention to the road. However, a driver may still be distracted even when they are no longer using their phone, eating, using the navigation system or engaging in other distracting activities. This is because it takes time for a driver to restore their attention to the road after engaging in a distracting activity.
Here is what to know:
27 seconds to regain attention
According to a study by the University of Utah for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, it takes up to 27 seconds for a driver to regain full attention after they cease to engage in a distracting activity. For example, if a driver answers or makes a call, it can take them a further 27 seconds after the call before they can fully concentrate on driving.
The researchers also found that it can take a driver up to 15 seconds to regain full attention after disconnecting from moderately distracting systems, for example, when selecting music. It might not take as much time to press the volume or select button as it does to make a call, but the driver will still need time to get their mind back to driving.
Anything can happen within these few seconds that the driver’s attention is away from the road. If you are driving around such a driver, they may fail to notice you or at least be slower to do so.
It is not always easy to spot a distracted driver. If you are injured due to someone else being distracted, you should learn more about your legal options so you can make informed decisions about what to do next.
