There are three main types of distractions that can occur while driving.
Visual: Taking your eyes off the road.
Manual: Taking your hands off the wheel.
Cognitive: Taking your mind off what you are doing.
Distracted driving is considered any non dirving activity that a person engages in and that has the potential to distract them from the primary task of driving and therefore increases the risk of getting in an accident. Under MN law, drivers are not allowed to have a cellphone or other electronic device in their hand while at the wheel. This includes at stoplights or stop signs.
Other distracting activities include:
Using a cell phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, watching a video, and changing radio station.
Research shows that driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near crashes involve some type of distraction.