4 Signs the Car Next to You Has a Distracted Driver
How many times have you been driving next to a car only to look over and see them staring down into their lap? Unfortunately, it’s quite common and exceedingly dangerous. The National Safety Council estimates that around 1.6 million crashes per year can be attributed to cell phone use while driving. While this statistic may be startling, cell phone use isn’t the only way a driver can be distracted. Here are a few ways you can see if a driver near you is distracted and to steer clear of them.
Read, ‘Teen Distracted Driving Statistics.’
1. The Glow of a Cell Phone at Night/Looking at Lap
As stated above, if you see a person with their head down, looking into their lap, there’s a good chance they are using their cell phone while driving. Another telltale sign of cell phone use is if their face is illuminated while driving at night. Though electronic dashboards are commonplace these days, the glow of a cell phone and driver’s tendency to look downward instead of at the road in front of them makes it crystal clear whether they are distracted or not.
2. Chewing
Eating while driving is one of the more common forms of distracted driving. We’ve all had long trips and rushed mornings where stopping for fast food or coffee is our quickest option for sustenance, but eating while driving can be very dangerous. It only takes a split second for you to look away from the road for someone to cut you off, a child to chase a ball, or any other obstacle to present itself and change your life forever. Dividing your attention between road safety and eating is simply not worth it.
There is currently no law against eating while driving, but if you are swerving or driving erratically while eating, you still can be pulled over and issued a citation. If you happen to cause an accident while eating, you will be at fault. So if you see somebody chewing or holding a wrapper while driving, try to avoid them safely.
3. Personal Interactions
Drivers who interact with the people in their car more often than they look at the road can be quite dangerous. If you observe wildly gesturing, they may be in an argument with a passenger in the car. If they constantly turn around, they could be chastising a child or trying to find something they’ve dropped. Any number of things within the confines of their vehicle can cause a driver to become distracted, even just for a minute. If you see the driver’s posture is not focused solely on the road in front of them, it’s best to keep a safe distance, if possible.
4. Bent Over Posture
If you notice a driver near you leaning forward to look at their dashboard, bending over to adjust their chair, trying to light a cigarette, or searching for something in their center console/touchscreen, they are very distracted. Who knows when they will find what they are searching for, but in the meantime, you don’t need to be near them while they do it.
Types of Distracted Driving
While there are infinite causes for distracted driving, they can all be assigned to one of three categories of distracted driving:
- Visual Distraction – This is any distraction that takes a driver’s eyes off the road. Whether it’s applying makeup, checking a phone or GPS, or looking at a passenger, if eyes aren’t attentive to the traffic in front of them, they are visually distracted.
- Cognitive Distraction – Cognitive distractions happen when the driver’s attention is diverted to any task other than driving. This can include daydreaming, talking on the phone, and more.
- Manual Distraction – Distractions of this sort involve the driver physically taking their hands off the wheel to perform another task. It often goes hand in hand with cognitive distractions and includes eating, texting, fiddling with dashboard controls, and more.
“On a typical day, more than 700 people are injured in distracted driving crashes. Talking on a cell phone – even hands-free – or texting or programming an in-vehicle infotainment system diverts your attention away from driving.”
–National Safety Council
If you notice a driver swerving, braking erratically, or otherwise going against the flow of traffic, they could be either distracted or intoxicated. If the behavior persists, find a safe place to pull over to avoid a potential crash, and notify the proper authorities. Knowing the signs of distracted driving is half the battle. Safe travels!
Learn more about our Illinois driving programs, find a Top Driver Driving School near you or contact the Top Driver team with any questions.
Additional Distracted Driving Resources
- How Parents Can Encourage Their Teen Driver to Limit Distractions
- Is Distracted Driving a Problem in Illinois
- Take the Just Drive Safety Pledge
- Learn About Cell Phone Locking Technology
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if the driver next to me is using their phone?
Two visual cues give it away almost every time. During the day, you'll notice the driver looking down into their lap instead of at the road. At night, look for the glow of a screen illuminating their face from below. Even modern dashboards don't cast that kind of upward light. The National Safety Council attributes roughly 1.6 million crashes per year to cell phone use behind the wheel, so when you spot these signs, drop back, change lanes, or otherwise create space between your vehicle and theirs.
Is it illegal to eat while driving?
There's no specific law against eating behind the wheel, but it's still one of the most common forms of distracted driving. If you're swerving or driving erratically because you're handling food, an officer can pull you over and issue a citation. More importantly, if you cause a crash while eating, you'll be found at fault. Eating divides your attention at the exact moment a child might chase a ball into the street or another driver might cut you off, so we treat it as a behavior to avoid in our courses, not just one to handle carefully.
What are the three main categories of distracted driving?
Every distraction falls into one of three buckets. Visual distractions take your eyes off the road, like glancing at a GPS, checking a phone, or applying makeup. Cognitive distractions pull your mind away from driving, such as daydreaming or being deep in a phone conversation, even on hands-free. Manual distractions take your hands off the wheel, like eating, texting, or adjusting climate controls. Activities like texting hit all three categories at once, which is why it's so dangerous. The National Safety Council reports more than 700 people are injured in distracted driving crashes on a typical day.
What body language tells me a driver is distracted by passengers?
Watch the driver's posture and head position. A driver who's wildly gesturing is likely arguing with a passenger. One who keeps turning to look in the back seat is usually managing a child or searching for something that dropped. If their head is angled toward a passenger instead of forward, their attention isn't on the road in front of them. The safest response is the same as with any distracted driver: increase your following distance, move to another lane when it's safe, and don't position your vehicle in a spot where a sudden lane drift would put you at risk.
What should I do if I see a driver who looks distracted or impaired?
If a driver is swerving, braking erratically, or going against the flow of traffic, treat them as a serious hazard whether they're distracted or intoxicated. First, give them space. Drop back so you're not directly beside or behind them. Don't try to pass aggressively. If the behavior continues, pull over to a safe location and call local law enforcement or 911 with the vehicle description, license plate if you can read it, and direction of travel. You're not overreacting. Reporting a clearly impaired driver can prevent a crash.
Is hands-free phone use actually safer while driving?
Hands-free is safer than holding a phone, but it's not actually safe. The National Safety Council notes that even hands-free phone conversations and programming an in-vehicle infotainment system divert attention away from driving. The phone might be off your hand, but your mind is still in the conversation rather than scanning the road. We coach students to treat any phone interaction, hands-free included, as something to handle before they leave the driveway or after they've safely parked.
