What effect can focusing on distractions have on a driver's perception?

Focusing on distractions while driving can significantly narrow a driver’s field of view. When a driver’s attention is diverted to something other than the road—such as a text message, adjusting the radio, or conversing with passengers—their ability to take in the surrounding environment diminishes. This inattentiveness often leads to missing critical visual cues, such as traffic signals, other vehicles, or pedestrians, which can impair safe driving.

Driving requires constant awareness of the roadway and potential hazards. When distractions are present, a driver’s cognitive resources are consumed by those distractions, leading to a decrease in situational awareness and visual attention. As a result, critical information in the peripheral vision may go unnoticed, which heightens the risk of accidents. By understanding this effect, drivers can appreciate the importance of staying focused on driving to maintain a wide field of view and enhance overall safety on the road.