Distracted driving causes nearly 80% of all car accidents. Every person with a phone is tempted to text, email, chat or use GPS, music players or every other app imaginable – while driving.
We’re all tempted to do so because we think we’re more than capable of looking down quickly and back up. The fact is, though, that our brains are far less capable when multitasking.
New studies show the harm caused to our brains and our performance while trying to multitask. This information begs to be considered in a day and age where we spend most of our day juggling to-do lists, tasks and concerns.
According to studies, your brain is not able to focus on two (or more) tasks at the same time. You only truly pay attention (and retain information) from one task or focal point at a time. Trying to split your attention between two means you have lower performance in both – and over time, you actually do damage to your brain by forcing it to focus on too many things at once.
And you increase your risk of being involved in a car accident.
This isn’t limited to texting or using your phone while driving. There are dozens of other tasks or distractions vying for your attention while you drive. A study by Exxon Mobile found that over 70% of people eat while driving, and 80% have a beverage in their hand. An alarming percentage also admit to personal grooming while driving.
Add in children in the backseat, pets, the radio and the concerns of the day, and little brain capacity is left for focusing on the road.
To avoid accidents, take a moment when you get in your car to clear your mind and intentionally focus on the drive ahead. Make a game of paying attention to details along the drive, rather than zoning out and going on auto pilot. Put your phone in your purse or out of sight so you don’t absent mindedly pick it up and start using it.
If you are involved in a distracted driving accident, contact a personal injury lawyer you can trust to put together the evidence needed to seek the full amount of compensation you deserve.
Source: http://coschedule.com/blog/multitasking-and-productivity/