57°
Texting while driving has proven to be lethal. And while awareness of this deadly distraction has grown and efforts to ban it are under way nationally, there are still many actions that are considered "distractions," according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
There are three main types of distraction:
* Visual -- taking eyes off the road
* Manual -- taking hands off the wheel
* Cognitive -- taking your mind off what you're doing
According to NHTSA, distracted driving is defined as "any non-driving activity in which a driver engages that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and thereby increase the risk of crashing." While all distractions endanger drivers' safety, texting is the most dangerous because it involves all three types of distraction.
Other distracting activities include:
* Using a cell phone
* Eating and drinking
* Talking to passengers
* Grooming
* Reading, including maps
* Using a PDA or navigation system
* Watching a video
Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
