Distraction types — Maine Permit Test

A manual distraction is one where the driver takes one or both hands off the wheel or another control for a non-driving task, such as eating or tuning the radio.

With one hand on a sandwich, a driver cannot steer hard or fast when a child runs out.

Manual distractions in which the driver removes one or both hands from the steering wheel or other driving control to perform a non-driving task, such as eating, drinking, adjusting mirrors, tuning the radio, or programming a GPS.

Cognitive distractions are mental thoughts and feelings, such as anger, anxiety or worry, that pull your attention from the road.

A driver replaying an argument can look straight at a stop sign and still not see it.

Cognitive distractions are mental thoughts and feelings (anger, anxiety, worry, etc.) that distract the driver and divert attention from the road.

Visual distractions make the driver look away from the road at something unrelated to driving, such as billboards or crash scenes.

Slowing to stare at a crash on the shoulder is how a second crash happens in the lane beside it.

Visual distractions that cause the driver to look away from the road and view something unrelated to driving, such as billboards, accident scenes, street signs and other external stimuli.

Short glances at mirrors and instruments are safe only if they last less than 1 second and are about driving.

A two-second look at a screen at 50 mph covers about 150 feet of road no one is watching.

Short glances at vehicle instrumentation, mirrors, installed communication devices, or other technology can be done safely if these scans are limited to less than one second and are related only to the driving task.

In a study of truck drivers, texting was by far the most dangerous distraction, raising the risk of a crash or near-crash 23 times.

Texting takes the eyes, a hand and the mind off driving all at once.

An in-cab driving study of commercial truck drivers by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute indicated that by far the most dangerous distraction observed was texting.

What does a manual distraction do?

Takes a hand off the wheel. With one hand on a sandwich, a driver cannot steer hard or fast when a child runs out. Maine Driver’s License Manual, p.26: “Manual distractions in which the driver removes one or both hands from the steering wheel or other driving control to perform a non-driving task, such as eating, drinking, adjusting mirrors, tuning the radio, or programming a GPS.”