Which statement best captures the impact of distraction on driving safety?

• A. Distraction has no effect on driving ability
• B. Distraction only affects memory
• C. Distraction can slow perception and delay decisions
• D. Distraction improves reaction time

Answer: (C)

Distraction steals attention from the road, pulling cognitive resources away from scanning for hazards, judging distances, and deciding on the right action. When focus is divided, perception slows and information is processed more slowly, so hazards may be missed and the time to decide what to do can increase. This combination—slower perception and delayed decisions—directly harms driving safety. The other statements aren’t accurate because distraction does affect driving, it isn’t limited to memory, and it does not improve reaction time; it typically makes response time worse.