For many people, driving in silence is nearly unthinkable. They always have some sort of audio playing: Music, podcasts, audiobooks, the radio, etc. Even those who do not actively turn on some type of media are often talking with passengers. The ride is rarely quiet. But should it be? Would the roads be safer if everyone drove in silence?
Listening to music (or anything else) is a form of distraction
The problem is that listening to anything is a distraction. Take teens who crank up the music before they drive. Studies have found that they make more driving mistakes and many were nearly involved in accidents, some of which had to be avoided by instructors. Examples of serious errors include:
- Switching lanes carelessly
- Breaking the speed limit
- Driving with one hand
- Making unsafe passing maneuvers
- Tailgating other cars
But it’s not just music. Drivers who talk to passengers may look away from the road or grow distracted by those conversations, causing similar errors. Even those who talk on the phone to avoid texting and driving are more likely to crash than those who stay off of the phone entirely. What you can see is that listening itself is the distraction. It takes a certain amount of mental ability to process what they are hearing, and that removes some of the focus from the road. Silence may be boring to the driver, but at least he or she would be intent on nothing but driving the car.
Has a distracted driver hit you?
Statistics alone aren’t going to make most people drive in silence, and accidents will continue to happen. If you get injured when someone else causes a crash, you need to know how to seek compensation for your injuries and losses. An attorney can help you pursue your claim and protect your interests.