How Seniors and Teenagers Avoid Distracted Driving

A lot of people get distracted while driving, and it's a serious problem that causes hundreds of thousands of car accidents each year. It's a problem that almost all drivers face occasionally, and it occurs when a driver is drowsy, he/she is talking on a cell phone, or fiddling with some device in the car. While all drivers are affected by this issue, senior and teenage drivers are especially prone to distracted driving. This is mainly because teens are immature and they are inexperienced drivers, and as far as seniors are concerned, they can easily get distracted because their ability to focus is reduced due to their age.

Teenage drivers are primarily distracted by texting and talking on a cell phone. While a lot of teens are starting to realize that these practices can be very dangerous, there are a couple of other things that can easily distract a teen driver, such as talking to passengers, or fiddling with a GPS device or a car stereo. Teens are not aware that even though when you need to push a button to play a song on your stereo, you only take your eyes off the road for a second or two, that's more than enough to crash into another car or hit a pedestrian. Most teens are pretty confident that they can react quickly in any situation, and they believe that a small distraction is not a problem for them. But, it is definitely a problem, and teens need to do everything they can to avoid distractions while driving.

Parents can teach their teen kids how to become responsible drivers. They can lead by example, and avoid talking on a cell phone or eating while driving. Also, parents should talk to their teenage children frequently and explain the risks of distracted driving, and maybe take away their driving privileges for a couple of weeks.

Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, distracted driving can be a result of momentary blindness, as well. It's a condition where you can't see an object that is right in front of your eyes, because your attention is focused on another object.

When it comes to senior drivers and distracted driving, they are susceptible to distractions because their cognitive abilities are reduced and they have trouble concentrating. Also, senior drivers generally take more medications than younger drivers, and some medications affect people's ability to focus, which often results in distracted driving.

If there is a senior driver in your family and you notice that they often get distracted while driving, it's your responsibility to let them know that distracted driving is very dangerous and that it's time for them to stop driving.