Everyday Driving Habits That Put You at Risk

Most people understand that texting while driving is dangerous. It’s drilled into us by PSAs, insurance commercials, and traffic laws. But what if the real threat behind the wheel isn’t just your phone?

The truth is, many drivers engage in everyday multitasking behaviors that feel routine, adjusting the GPS, handing snacks to the kids, and changing a playlist. These may not seem reckless in the moment, but they can be just as dangerous as texting. And in the aftermath of an accident, they carry real legal consequences.

If you’ve been hurt by a distracted driver, even if they weren’t on their phone, you may still be entitled to compensation. A car accident attorney in Tulsa can help you understand your rights and take legal action.

Let’s take a closer look at the kinds of distractions we’ve come to accept as “normal,” and why that needs to change.

The Top Everyday Distractions That Aren’t Texting

Distraction doesn’t always come with a notification sound. Here are some of the most common, and most overlooked, forms of multitasking behind the wheel:

• Eating and drinking: One hand off the wheel, attention on your lap, and hot coffee in a moving vehicle, it’s a recipe for disaster. A simple spill can cause a reflexive overcorrection.
• Programming a GPS: Entering an address, zooming in on the map, or even glancing at directions takes your eyes and focus off the road. At 55 mph, looking away for just five seconds is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
• Talking to children: Turning around to check on a toddler, breaking up sibling arguments, or reaching for dropped items in the back seat pulls both mental and physical attention away from driving.
• Personal grooming: Applying lipstick at a red light or fixing your hair in the mirror might seem harmless, until that light turns green or traffic patterns change suddenly.
• Handling pets: An unrestrained dog climbing into your lap or moving around the car isn’t just distracting, it’s a serious safety hazard.
• Changing music or podcasts: Scrolling through playlists or adjusting volume takes more concentration than most drivers realize, especially if you’re using a phone or touchscreen interface.

These aren’t rare scenarios; they’re everyday behaviors. And that’s what makes them so dangerous.

What many drivers don’t realize is that being found at fault in a distracted driving accident doesn’t just carry legal consequences; it can also lead to significant increases in your insurance premiums, sometimes for years after the crash.

Why These “Minor” Distractions Are Legally Significant

Many drivers assume that if they weren’t texting, they weren’t distracted. But the law sees it differently.

Distracted driving encompasses any activity that diverts attention from the primary task of driving. That includes eating, grooming, or reaching into the back seat. These behaviors can support a negligence claim, which is the legal standard used to determine fault in most car accident cases.

Even if the driver wasn’t ticketed, their behavior can still be used to prove liability. The challenge? Unless the distraction is documented, either by a police report, eyewitness testimony, or physical evidence, insurance companies may downplay it. That’s why early documentation is critical.

Why Multitasking Makes You a Worse Driver

Multitasking might feel efficient, but behind the wheel, it’s anything but. What really happens is that your brain switches rapidly between tasks, rather than handling them simultaneously and that constant switching slows your reaction time and clouds your judgment.

In fact, whether the brain can multitask while driving is one of the most misunderstood aspects of driver safety. Research shows that divided attention causes drivers to miss key visual cues, overlook developing hazards, and react too slowly to avoid a crash.

Even a brief glance at a screen or reaching into the back seat can be enough to cause a life-altering mistake.

What to Do After a Distracted Driving Accident

If you’re involved in a crash where the other driver may have been distracted, even in ways that aren’t obvious, it’s important to act quickly and document everything:

1. Call the police and ensure a report is filed. This creates a formal record of the incident.
2. Take photos or videos of the scene, including the other driver’s vehicle interior if visible (e.g., spilled food, open containers, electronic devices).
3. Note the other driver’s behavior. Were they chewing food? Looking behind them? Holding a phone or an object?
4. Ask witnesses what they saw. Their observations can help confirm the distraction.
5. Seek medical attention right away, and keep records of all treatment.

Most importantly, do not rely on the at-fault driver’s version of events. They may minimize or deny the distraction altogether.

Why Legal Help Is Important in These Cases

Proving distraction isn’t always easy, especially when there’s no phone involved. Insurance companies may argue that “everyone adjusts the radio” or “everyone eats in the car,” downplaying the driver’s negligence.

That’s where an experienced car accident attorney makes a difference. A skilled legal team can:

• Subpoena phone records or in-car data from connected vehicles
• Review traffic or security camera footage
• Use depositions to question the other driver about their behavior at the time of the crash

These steps help build a strong, fact-based case and push back against efforts to dismiss legitimate claims.

It’s Not Just About Phones

Multitasking behind the wheel doesn’t require a glowing screen. It can be as simple as unwrapping a sandwich, glancing into the back seat, or brushing hair at a red light. These actions may feel harmless, even routine, but they put lives at risk.

If you or someone you love has been injured because another driver wasn’t fully focused, don’t wait. Seek medical care, document everything, and talk to an attorney who understands how to handle distracted driving claims.