Multitasking and Driving Don’t Mix

By Jason Bottlinger on August 18, 2017

Although we know the potential dangers that come with talking and texting while driving, some drivers still see nothing wrong with doing so. Their excuse? Being able to “multitask.”

Many people boast about how great their multitasking skills are, and they attribute distracted driving accidents to the fact that the person wasn’t an effective multitasker! Not true. Below are some little-known facts about multitasking that can save you some trouble in the long run.

The Misconceptions of Multitasking

Contrary to belief, the human brain cannot do two things at once. Think about it: you’re watching your favorite show on TV and then all of a sudden a friend calls you and wants to tell you about her day. In this situation, either you’re going to watch what’s happening on TV, but not hear a word of what your friend said, or you’re going to be so invested in the conversation that you’re going to miss key points in the show. You won’t be able to give a full and accurate account of what happened with both.

Apply this situation to driving. If you’re talking on the phone, you could miss key things that are happening around you.

Car Conversations

Talking to a passenger in the car is not quite the same as talking on the phone. The passenger is another set of eyes, and even if the driver does get distracted by talking, the passenger can alert the driver of any potential dangers. Still, keep your mind firmly on the road, not on your conversation.

Hands-Free Is Safe, Right?

Although many people will say that voice texting is safe and doesn’t cause any distractions, it actually does. The inaccuracy of voice texting causes you to become mentally and visually distracted. Auto-correct proofing by itself can drive you to distraction.

Hands-free messaging can cause a driver to miss seeing up to 50% of his or her driving environment. This includes seeing pedestrians and red lights. A study done by AAA shows that people are still distracted up to 27 seconds after sending a voice text! For this reason, texting while at stop lights isn’t recommended either.

Using a phone while driving can be tempting, but drivers must consider the safety of others. If you do become involved in a car crash due to someone’s distracted driving, do not hesitate to call an Omaha car accident attorney at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. at (402) 505-8234 for a free consultation.