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The truth of the injury matter: distracted driving

Distracted driving occurs when a driver engages in any activity, whether visual, manual or cognitive, that can distract him/her from the primary task of driving. Visual distractions are defined as tasks that take your eyes off the road; manual distractions are those tasks that take your hands off the wheel; and cognitive distractions are defined as tasks that take your mind off the act of driving. All three types of distractions can lead to accidents and serious injuries.

Common distractions while driving include, but are not limited to, eating and/or drinking; using cell phones for calls, texting or other related tasks; reading maps, newspapers or other items; performing personal grooming; and making adjustments to the vehicle, such as the radio, car seat, mirrors and/or temperature controls. Any task or action that takes your eyes off the road increases your crash risk.

As one of the nation’s leading commercial and personal auto insurers, Travelers provides risk management resources and services designed to help you mitigate the risks of distracted driving. You can find many of these resources on the Risk Control Customer Portal.