Final answer:
Distractions that can take a driver's attention away from the road include engaging in conversation, thinking about other things, using a mobile phone, and eating or drinking. These distractions can impair driving performance and increase accident risk. Behavior studies and awareness can help drivers reduce these risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
A type of distraction that takes the driver's mind away from the road includes engaging in conversation with a passenger, thinking about something that happened during the day, using a mobile phone, and eating or drinking while driving. Any of these activities can divert a driver's attention, reducing their awareness and response times, which increases the risk of accidents. Studies, like the hypothetical one suggested to examine the impact of texting on driving performance, often measure reaction times to brake lights to quantify the distraction's effect. The habit-forming nature of checking mobile phones can make texting while driving a particularly hard habit to break, as it becomes an automatic event schema as described by Bayer and Campbell (2012).
Understanding how distractions affect driving performance is an important aspect of road safety. It's clear that when our attention is directed at complex tasks, we are less aware of our environment, leading to potential safety risks. Becoming aware of these distractions and their effects can help drivers make safer choices on the road.