How can distractions affect driving performance?

Distractions significantly impact driving performance by impairing both hazard perception and reaction time. When a driver is distracted, their ability to notice and react to potential dangers on the road decreases. This can occur because their attention is divided among various stimuli—such as mobile devices, passengers, or even external environments—which can lead to slower responses to critical situations, such as a pedestrian crossing the road or a vehicle abruptly stopping ahead.

Having reduced hazard perception means that drivers may not see a potential threat in time to react appropriately, which in turn can lead to accidents. Consequently, safe driving requires undivided attention, as any distraction can cause serious delays in a driver's ability to respond to changing traffic conditions and emergencies, compromising overall road safety.