Distracted Driving Statistics & Facts: Risks, Causes & Safety Tips
In the early 1980s, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) brought to public notice; the horrific number of yearly fatalities caused by highly drunk drivers. They discovered that; 80 percent of car accidents involved some distraction -three seconds before an impact occurs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after over three decades of effective advocacy, drunk driving fatalities have decreased by much more than 50 percent to 9967 in 2014, from around 25,000 in 1980.
Distracted driving and testing statistics (facts) show that more drivers aren’t adhering to instructions. Undoubtedly, everyone should be aware of how disastrous texting is when driving. But, when it comes to technological advancements, the principle of unintended consequences nearly rears its head. Among the most hazardous effects of mobile phones has been an increase in reckless and distracted driving.
In this article, we will be looking at many of the most intriguing and helpful distracted driving, texting statistics, and facts, with the sole objective of assisting readers in learning almost everything there is to know about the associated risks and consequences of the subject matter. The purpose is to highlight what it means to be distracted while driving and why you shouldn’t indulge in it.
What Is Texting While Driving?
To use a phone or tablet to read, write, and send texts while steering a vehicle is known as texting while driving. The concept “texting and driving” is used in this context to imply the use of messaging apps, social media, and mobile devices to send or read emails while driving an automobile.
Note: Distracted driving is a catch-all phrase that includes texting and driving.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving refers to a brief moment when your mind, attention, or eyes is off the road while driving. It’s a huge risk because drivers are 400% likely to encounter an accident when they take their eyes or concentration from the road. Statistically, it may reach a maximum of 600 percent. The fact that the proportion is greater than 100 indicates how seriously dangerous it is to text and drive.
Below are three different ways motorists can be distracted while driving:
Visual Distraction
Visual distraction occurs whenever a driver takes his\her eyes away from the road. In this case, it may be that a phone screen is gazed at, watching billboard adverts, or observing someone on the sidewalk.
Manual Distraction
Manual distraction occurs when motorists remove their hands from the steering column to search for something, like a phone. By so doing, they are not attending to the vehicle’s manual controls.
Cognitive Distraction
In this instance, the driver is either mentally disoriented or distracted. They might be organizing a birthday celebration or choosing what to text a buddy in response to the notification tone that just sounded on their phone.
Source: St Luke’s Health
What Are The Dangers of Texting and Driving?
More than 3,000 persons now pass away annually, mostly young drivers. Every year, texting while driving causes more than 1.6 million accidents – according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
- Driving while distracted, especially using a mobile phone when throttling on the roadways, is associated with increasing traffic mishaps that cause injury and fatalities.
- Driving while texting is more deadly than driving drunk since you are 6 percent more likely to become involved in a collision than driving under the influence of excess alcohol.
- Day in and day out, distracted driving claims the lives of 8 persons in the United States, according to CDC.
How many accidents are caused by texting and driving?
- According to the National Safety Council, motorists using mobile phones while driving are the reason for 1.6 million auto accidents every year.
- Texting while driving results in one in every four auto accidents. You read that right—it contributes to a staggering 25% of all accidents in the U.S.
How Much More Likely Are You To Be Involved In A Crash If You Are Texting While Driving?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it takes about 5 seconds to read or reply to a text message. While it might not seem like much, that is sufficient for a car to travel across a football field. The length of a typical American football pitch is 100 yards.
Note: Five seconds is an enormous time to miss the bike crossing the street, the automobile next to you -slowing down, or the traffic signal going red.
What Age group is Most Affected by distracted driving?
According to a detailed study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teen motorists and young adults are now the most distracted car drivers on the highway
The organization concluded that;
- Motorists aged 15-19 are more likely to be distracted than drivers aged 20 and older. They are always among drivers in crashes that lead to loss of lives;
- Young adults between the ages of 20 to 29 made up 25% of distracted or inattentive drivers involved in ghastly auto collisions.
Texting and Driving Statistics 2019/2022
Fatal Crashes, Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, and Fatalities in Distraction-Affected Crashes, and Cell Phone Use by Distracted Drivers, 2019
Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by Age Group, Distraction, and Cell Phone Use
| Total Drivers | All Distracted Drivers | Drivers using Cell Phones | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age Group | Number | Percentage of Total Drivers | Number | Percentage of Total Drivers in This Age Group | Percentage of All Distracted Drivers | Number | Percentage of All Distracted Drivers in this Age Group | Percentage of Drivers Using Cell Phones |
| 15-20 | 3,968 | 8% | 344 | 9% | 11% | 66 | 19% | 17% |
| 21-24 | 4,590 | 9% | 297 | 6% | 10% | 61 | 21 | 16% |
| 25-34 | 10,507 | 21% | 686 | 7% | 23% | 90 | 13% | 23% |
| 35-44 | 8,301 | 16% | 531 | 6% | 18% | 79 | 15% | 20% |
| 45-54 | 7,532 | 15% | 392 | 5% | 13% | 48 | 12% | 12% |
| 55-64 | 7,166 | 14% | 315 | 4% | 10% | 32 | 10% | 8% |
| 65-74 | 4,404 | 9% | 208 | 5% | 7% | 10 | 5% | 3% |
| 75+ | 3,229 | 6% | 184 | 6% | 6% | 3 | 2% | 1% |
| Total | 50,930 | 100% | 3,008 | 6% | 100% | 390 | 13% | 100% |
Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System
Fatalities in All Crashes and Distraction-Affected Crashes, by Person Type
| Total Fatalities | Distraction-Affected (D-A) Fatalities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Person Type | Number | Percent | Number | Percent |
| Total | 36,096 | 100% | 3,142 | 100% |
| Occupants | ||||
| Driver | 22,613 | 63% | 1,853 | 59% |
| Passenger | 6,145 | 17% | 723 | 23% |
| Total Occupants | 28,758 | 80% | 2,576 | 82% |
| Non Occupants | ||||
| Pedestrian | 6,205 | 17% | 462 | 15% |
| Pedal Cyclist | 846 | 2% | 77 | 2% |
| Other/Unknown | 287 | 1% | 27 | 1% |
| Total Occupants | 7,338 | 20% | 566 | 18% |
Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System
9 Facts About Distracted Driving And Texting Statistics
- Based on New York Times findings, the rise in distracted driving is attributed primarily to the use of city apps.
- 55 percent of teen drivers and 77 percent of adults believe they can text and drive safely. (Icebike)
- According to an NHTSA report, only 20 percent of high schoolers consider texting while driving a problem.
- A few causes of texting and driving are “fear of missing out” or “FOMO.” People who have FOMO use mobile phones while driving because they are afraid of missing an engaging or exciting event.
- 27 percent of motorists acknowledged texting while driving because they believe there is an expectation (obligation) of prompt responses.
- Consumer Reports study of consumers found that 8% of respondents stream (play) videos on their phones while driving.
- A hands-free gadget can keep a person distracted for the next 27 seconds or more after using it. (Washington Post)
- Hands-free driving and Distracted driving meant the same thing.
- 56 percent of participants in an Everquote survey admitted to using a phone while driving, while 96 percent of survey takers identified themselves as safe drivers. (Fortune)
| Crashes | Drivers | Fatalities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total fatal Crashes | 35,766 | 53,890 | 38,824 |
| Number of distraction-affected fatal crashes | 2,880 | 2,968 | 3142 |
| Percent of total fatal crashes | 8% | 6% | 8% |
| Number of cellphone distraction-affected fatal crashes | 354 | 356 | 396 |
| Percent of fatal distraction-affected crashes | 12% | 12% | 13% |
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
What Are The Quotes Surrounding Texting and Driving?
Honk if you love Jesus, text while driving if you want to meet him. – Pastor Floyd Ingram
Baseball is like driving; it’s the one who gets home safely that counts.– Tommy Lasorda
What Should You Do?
For safety purposes, drive with both hands on the steering and focus your eyes on the road throughout the journey. The facts and statistics about distracted driving should be a wake-up call for everyone, especially if you exhibit negative driving habits. Remember; only the living celebrate.
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