All distractions are dangerous for drivers on the roadways. Cognitive distractions are particularly hazardous because they’re often unnoticed by people other than the driver who’s dealing with them.
A cognitive distraction is one that has to do with the driver’s mental focus away from driving. This can include anything from thinking about problems at work to trying to figure out how to get the children to their activities when the schedule is tight.
Negative impact on driving abilities
One of the most immediate effects of a cognitive distraction has to do with the driver’s reaction times. When they aren’t thinking about what they’re doing while they’re driving, they may not be able to make decisions when they come across obstacles. This could mean that they crash into another vehicle because they didn’t react appropriately.
Cognitive distractions can also lead to the driver making other errors when they drive. The mental preoccupation may cause them to misjudge speeds, gaps in traffic or distances. They may make unsafe lane changes or turn when they shouldn’t. They may even miss stop signs, traffic lights or pedestrians because they’re not really focused on driving safely.
Victims of crashes caused by cognitive distractions may have a difficult time proving the reason for the crash if they opt to pursue a compensation claim. It may help for them to work with someone familiar with these cases to gather what’s necessary for the claim. These cases must be filed within a specific time because of time limits set by law.