BERLIN: Quick reactions behind the wheel are important when driving – even the briefest distraction can become a problem, says warns the Auto Club Europa (ACE).
Here are some of the most common distractions and how to deal with them.
Smartphones
Even though using a smartphone while driving is illegal, that doesn't stop many people from typing messages, making calls, or quickly adjusting something in the map app.
It’s dangerous: if you look at your phone instead of the road for three seconds, at 50kph that means you’ll have travelled blind for 40m. At 130kp, that distance is 108m.
If you really need to use your smartphone while driving, use the device's voice control and keep your eyes on the road. Otherwise, pull over.
Adjusting the rear-view mirror or moving your seat forward or back while driving – even small movements like these can distract you and take your focus off the road. It's best to adjust all of these things before setting off.
Eating and drinking
Eating and drinking while driving is also a distraction – especially since you often only have one hand on the steering wheel.
In addition, your eyes aren't always on the road when you're opening a package or trying to fish a bottle out of the passenger footwell.
If you absolutely have to eat while driving, everything should be within easy reach and easy to open. Even better, though, is to stop and then eat and drink in a relaxed manner.
Sometimes, however, you can lose focus even when your eyes are looking straight ahead.
This can happen when you get caught up in an emotional conversation or concentrate too much on what is being said, such as in meetings and podcasts.
Fatigue can also become a problem and the resulting microsleep can be a major danger.
Coffee and energy drinks are of limited help here, as they don't address the root cause.
So it's important to take regular breaks and, if necessary, even a short power nap, the ACE recommends.
