If you are a book lover, getting the time to sit and read may be a challenge in today’s fast world. The best alternative to reading may be getting an audio copy of the book and listening as you engage in another activity.
Some people find listening to an audiobook when driving a convenient and productive way to pass the time. While listening to an audiobook may seem like a harmless hobby, it increases the chances of a cognitive distraction that could result in an accident.
According to the CDC, nine people die daily in distraction-related accidents, accounting for over 3,000 deaths yearly. Three types of distractions could result from listening to an audiobook; visual, manual, and cognitive.
Types of Distractions
Visual distractions take the eyes off the road. An audiobook may not take your eyes off the road, but that depends if you have already set where you want to start your listening. If not, you may be tempted to set your starting point while at the wheel, which would mean getting your eyes off the road to your device, which can be your car radio or phone.
Manual distractions take the hands or one hand off the wheel. Drivers may need to take their hands off the wheel if they have to set their devices while driving. Taking your hands off the wheel for a period of time affects your ability to react in an emergency, which could result in an accident.
Cognitive distractions take the driver’s mind off the road. Books can be immersive – if you are listening to an exciting story, you can get immersed in it so that you forget you were on the road.
Distractions Dependent on Content
A study conducted on drivers listening to complex audio recordings showed a greater level of distractions than drivers listening to more straightforward recordings. According to researchers, the reason for this difference is the level of attention required to effectively listen to complex audio is higher than for more straightforward audio.
However, not all drivers were affected. Some showed no differences in driving habits, irrespective of the type of audio they listened to. Whether listening to an audiobook is a harmless hobby or a dangerous distraction can depend on your personality. If you love getting immersed in your books, avoiding listening to an audiobook while driving would be best.
It Can Be Difficult To Prove
Some telltale signs of a distracted driver are near exit misses, going too slow or fast for the posted limit, drifting in and out of a lane, and missing turns.
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to identify an audiobook as a distraction in an accident.
“If you get into an accident and the other driver mentions something to the effect of listening to an audiobook, it is important to let the police and your lawyer know, as it can help determine liability,” says attorney John Yannone of Price Benowitz Accident Injury Lawyers, LLP.
If another form of distraction were a factor, such as texting and talking on the phone or fiddling with the car’s controls, it is also a good idea to take a record which you will then use to build your case.