Avoid texting while driving because it involves all the different types of distractions, making multi-tasking a myth.

April was Distracted Driving Month, but every day of the year is a good time to combat distracted driving; this is especially true for road workers! Tucker Paving has 30 years in the paving industry, including asphalt and concrete. The safety of our crews is always the most important thing, and that means combating distracted driving every day.

While just about anything can be a source of distraction for a driver, the main culprit is cell phones. Many people feel that they can multi-task while driving—driving and texting, driving and checking socials, etc. However, what they are actually accomplishing is distracted driving!

The Ways and Means of Distraction

While nearly anything can be a distraction, there are three main types of distractions. They are:

  • Visual Distractions. These distractions take your eyes off the road. They include looking at passengers in the vehicle, looking at the radio or GPS controls, or looking at something on the side of the road.
  • Manual Distractions. These types of distractions occur when one or both of a driver’s hands are taken off the wheel. They include touching vehicle controls not on the steering wheel, taking a drink, or holding something to eat.
  • Cognitive Distractions. These distractions take a driver’s mental focus away from driving; they include having conversations—including over the phone—letting your mind wander, or even trying to diagnose a sound your vehicle is making while driving.

The idea that you can multi-task while driving is a myth. The reality is that each task you attempt takes a percentage of your attention away from driving. Anything less than 100% attention to driving increases the chances of an accident occurring.

Why Texting While Driving Is So Bad

The reason why texting is so dangerous is that it involves all three of the different types of distractions at once. It’s a visual distraction because you have to look at your phone rather than the road; it’s a manual distraction because you have to take a hand off the wheel to text; lastly, it’s also a cognitive distraction because you have to mentally decide what to write, when to send, etc.

The only remedy is to put your phone down while driving, give all of your concentration to the road, and not resuming text until your vehicle is parked.

We have nearly 30 years of experience in the asphalt and concrete paving industry, and safety is always our first concern on any jobsite! We ask that when on the road, you consider the safety of our workers too! Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or use our contact form online. How can we help you with your next concrete or asphalt paving project?