What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking on your phone or texting, eating, drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your focus away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed!

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention.  Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

There are three main types of distraction:

• Visual: taking your eyes off the road
• Manual: taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: taking your mind off driving

Anything that takes your attention away from driving can be a distraction.  Sending a text message, talking on a cell phone, using a navigation system, and eating while driving are just a few examples of distracted driving.  Any of these distractions can endanger you, your passengers, and others on the road.

Paul Puccio
Highway Safety Program Representative 
Governor's Traffic Safety Committee 
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles 
6 Empire State Plaza, Room 410B 
Albany, NY 12228 
518-474-5111