Driving a motor vehicle requires full focus, concentration, and awareness of the road, vehicles, people, and surrounding buildings. If you lose your focus even for a split second, you put yourself and others around you at risk. As such, distracted driving is highly dangerous and poses serious threats to safety.
Both experienced drivers and learners ought to practice self-awareness and avoid visual, manual, and mental distractions when operating motorcycles and vehicles. A break in your attention could be the thin line between life and death. Keep reading to discover the negative impacts of distracted driving that can lead to long-lasting consequences.
Slower Reaction Time
When you’re driving, know that every second counts, especially as you share the road with other drivers. The moment you take your eyes or mind off the road, you become momentarily oblivious to what’s happening around you.
Due to the lack of attention, you may not notice signs of danger like a vehicle in a blind spot, a mother motorcycle halting abruptly, or a child crossing wrongly. By the time you become aware of a disruption on the way, you may already be too close. Hence, you’ll have less time to act quickly and protect yourself.
Loss of Balance and Control
Unlike in a car, where you can get away with one-handed driving, you need both hands for stability to operate a motorcycle. It’s also important that you position your body properly since your riding posture can improve balance.
Since your body provides balance, distractions that will cause you to twitch, take a hand off the handlebars, or assume a wrong posture can lead to loss of control. As such, it becomes harder to drive steadily, so you can easily go off course.
Higher Risk of Accidents
Distracted driving is one of the major causes of road accidents. When driving a motorcycle, always remember that it’s smaller than other vehicles and therefore less visible in blind spots. It also has a narrow profile, making it harder for drivers to see, especially in bad weather and busy environments.
These factors put you at a disadvantage, so you have to be extra alert to avoid accidents. Without proper attention, you may end up in a blind spot next to a car or a truck. If this happens, they may misjudge your distance or be oblivious of your presence, increasing the potential for a side-swipe collision or a side-impact crash.
Fatal Injuries
Even if you choose the right motorcycle, you still have to drive cautiously. That’s because motorcycles offer less physical protection as they lack safety features like seat belts and airbags.
The lack of an outer frame also means that a crash can land the driver on the road against another vehicle or object. Hence, there is a higher risk of internal injuries, fractures, spinal damage, or even death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are more likely to die in fatal traffic crashes.
Litigation and Lawsuits
Driving while distracted puts you on the offensive. You might injure a pedestrian or another driver, and their injuries may lead to death. In such cases, you’ll likely receive a court summons for a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Depending on the circumstances, you may also face criminal charges. If this happens, you’ll need a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer to help you navigate the process and minimize your penalties in this city.
Endnote
When riding a motorcycle, it’s important to stay alert and conscious of whatever happens around you. Indulging distractions gives you less time to react to changes in the environment. This can cause you to lose balance, get involved in an accident, sustain injuries, harm others, and face legal consequences.
