Distracted driving refers to an activity that diverts the motorist’s attention away from the act of driving. This can include things such as texting and driving, talking on the phone and driving, eating and driving, and even playing with the stereo while driving. Basically, anything that takes the driver’s eyes off the road to focus on other tasks. However, when a motorist takes their attention away from the road, even for an instant, they can no longer operate their vehicles safely. As a result, the consequences of distracted driving can be horrifying. Four Types of Driver Distractions Distracted driving is usually broken up into the following four categories: Visual Distractions These distractions involve the motorist looking away from the road. For instance, a visual distraction can be the motorist turning around to talk to the passengers in the back seats, searching for something that fell on the floor, or checking their cell phone while driving. Auditory Distractions An auditory distraction happens when a motorist hears something that causes their attention to shit from the road. An example would be the driver listening to music at a high volume or conversations that others in the car are having. Manual Distractions A manual distraction usually results from the driver taking their hands from the wheel because they are doing something other than driving, such as texting on their cell phone, personal grooming, or eating. Cognitive Distraction When the driver’s mind wanders and begins to think about things other than driving, it can become a cognitive distraction and lead to serious crashes.