Final answer:
Performing personal tasks like texting while driving leads to increased traffic accidents and driver distraction. Phone checking habits are difficult to interrupt when driving and can occur automatically, increasing risks. Recognizing the danger and resisting ingrained habits while driving is essential for road safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
One problem associated with performing personal tasks, such as texting, while driving is the significant increase in traffic accidents and driver distraction. Activities that take attention away from driving require cognitive effort and can lead to dangerous situations. For instance, many people have developed an event schema or habit of checking their phones regularly. This habit can be difficult to interrupt when driving because the action has become almost automatic for many. Even when we perform tasks on 'autopilot,' such as commuting to a familiar place, our attention can still be diverted away from important cues on the road, leading to decreased safety.
Moreover, psychologists like Bayer and Campbell in their 2012 study highlight that texting while driving is not just a habit because of frequent activity; it can occur without conscious thought, further increasing the risk of accidents.
When we consider the differences in driving behavior while being observed, such as being followed by a police car versus driving on a deserted highway, it is clear that self-monitoring plays an essential role in driver behavior. Therefore, it's important for drivers to recognize that personal tasks should not be mixed with driving to avoid hazardous consequences, and efforts should be made to resist the lure of ingrained habits while behind the wheel.