Is it your habit to text while driving? (Mobile Device Distraction) Learn about these dangers!

Have you ever texted on your phone while walking, or on the bus or train? You might be thinking, "Oh, what's that, I'll just do this and that while I'm doing other things." But what actually happens to our attention when we text? Could this be more dangerous than we think? Today, we'll talk about this.

Why is it difficult for the brain to do two things at once?

Simply put, no matter how young or how smart we are, our brains have a hard time multitasking . Think about it, when you're typing a text, you're thinking about what you're writing, watching your fingers move on the keyboard, and reading the incoming message. While you're doing all this, you're losing track of what you're actually doing and where you're going.

This is what we call `multitasking`. But when you do this `multitasking`, especially when you do two tasks that require a lot of attention at once, the attention you give to one task inevitably decreases. Some people say, "I can `text` without looking at the `keypad`." That may be true. But even so, your brain is trying to do two things at once. Then the attention you give to one inevitably decreases. This is sometimes called `(Cognitive Switching)` , which means that the brain switches from one task to the other quickly, but does not do both at the same time, with the same attention. It's like trying to catch two bananas at once and both fall to the ground.

Another thing is that when you `text`, you lose your focus on what is happening around you. Imagine, you are walking home alone at night. How important is it to be aware of your surroundings at such a time, right? But if you `text`, you may not realize if someone is following you or if there is a stranger. Also, your `Reaction Time` is also greatly reduced. This means that if someone suddenly comes in front of you, or if there is an obstacle, you are less likely to react quickly. If you act late, the chances of an accident are higher.

What's wrong with texting while on the road?

Now you have a little idea of ​​the dangers of texting while walking. You can fall into a ditch on the side of the road, you can hit someone in front of you, or you can get injured by hitting an obstacle or a pole. In fact, this 'distracted walking' has become a big problem in the world. Some countries have even passed laws prohibiting texting while walking, it is so serious. Just imagine, if you are on your phone while crossing the road, you can miss the car coming from the other side. How dangerous is that?

Let's look at a small example?

Imagine, Kasun is typing an urgent message to his friend and walking down the street, a little nervous. He thinks, "I'm just looking around, I'm texting, I'm fine." But suddenly, a small stone on the road trips him, causing him to fall. The phone in his hand also falls, and his knee is badly scraped. Fortunately, there were no major injuries. Although this may seem like a small thing, sometimes a fall like this can result in a broken arm or leg. Also, if a vehicle was coming, how much more dangerous would the situation have been?

Texting while driving is deadly!

If texting while walking is so dangerous, then texting while driving is a thousand times more dangerous . In fact, some medical research and road safety studies have found that texting while driving can be even more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs! Imagine how serious that is. Because when you text, your eyes and your entire mind are on your phone. You're not looking at the road, you're not looking around. Even a few seconds of distraction can lead to a serious accident.

When a car accident occurs, authorities like the police definitely check the driver's phone's `call records` and `text message activity` in the seconds and minutes before the accident. This is because it has been found that `distracted driving` is the cause of many accidents.

What does the law say about this?

In Sri Lanka, using a mobile phone, that is, making calls and texting, while driving is prohibited by law. In other countries, in many countries, especially in many states in the United States, texting while driving is completely prohibited by law. In some places, drivers who have just obtained a license are not allowed to use the phone at all.

If you are caught texting and driving, you can be fined. Not only that, but if you get lost on the road, obstruct other vehicles, or cause an accident, you can also be charged with ``Reckless Driving.'' If you do that, you can be fined heavily, lose your ``license,'' and possibly even go to jail if you cause a fatal accident. So this is not a game at all.

So how do you control this properly?

It's hard to live without text messages these days. Texting with friends, family, and even for work has become commonplace. So the best thing to do is to manage how and when we text. We need to text at the right time and place .

Here are some simple things you can do to make sure your texting habit doesn't become a distraction to your focus, and your life:

• Always keep your phone in an easy-to-find place. For example, put it in a small pocket in your bag or purse. Then you won't have to look for it.
• If you need to send a text message urgently, stop what you are doing. If you are walking on the street, pull over. If you are driving, stop the car in a safe place on the street and send the text message. Never do these things while running or driving.
• Before you get into a car or other vehicle, it would be great if you could set an automatic message on your phone. Then, if someone calls, they will receive a message saying that you are driving and will call back later.
• When you're doing something that requires your full attention, such as an important meeting, studying, or driving, put your phone on silent mode or turn it off. That way, you'll be less tempted to answer calls and texts.
• Use your best judgment . Only text when it's not dangerous to you or others. Also, if the driver of your car is texting, politely ask them to stop. Otherwise, try not to ride with that person again. Your safety is important too.

The most important thing we need to remember is

So, finally, I have to tell you this. `Texting` and `phone` use have become a normal part of our lives. But we don't want to get into unnecessary danger because of that. We need to understand that our brains have a hard time doing two things at once. Especially when we are on the road or driving a car, when we need a lot of attention, it is wise to put the `phone` aside and give full attention to what we are doing.

Remember, not a single text message or social media update is worth more than your life.

There are times when your safety, as well as the safety of others, is in your hands. So, let's use our phones responsibly.

Phone use, driving, attention, accidents, versatility, mobile phones, safety