Distracted driving is a dangerous and all-too-common habit. Cell phones, eating and even pets can prevent drivers from giving their full attention to the road. Check out these statistics from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and Distraction.gov – and stay safe behind the wheel.
Distracted driving puts lives at risk
As many as 1 in 4 accidents are caused by some type of driver distraction
Each day, distracted driving causes about 9 fatalities and 1,153 injuries
Taking your eyes off the road is a top driver distraction
When sending a text, the average person looks away from the road for 5 seconds
So, if you’re texting and driving at 55 m.p.h., you could travel the length of a football field without looking at the road
Teens and adults are guilty of cell phone use while driving
69% of drivers ages 18-64 admit to talking on a phone while driving and 31% say they’ve texted or emailed while driving
20% of teens and 10% of parents admit they’ve had lengthy text conversations behind the wheel
Drivers don’t always practice what they preach
In a recent survey, 98% of drivers acknowledge that texting and driving is dangerous
However, 74% admit to engaging in a text-related activity while driving
So why do people text and drive?
43% of drivers say they want to connect with friends, family and work
30% say they text and drive out of habit
28% say they’re afraid of missing something important
27% say they felt others expected them to answer their phones right away
Smart phones aren’t the only distraction
Daydreaming causes 62% of distracted driving accidents, according to one study
Eating, reading and applying makeup increases the likelihood of a crash 2-3 times
Kids cause parents to take their eyes off the road for an average of 3 minutes, 22 seconds during a 16-minute car ride – or 21% of total driving time
65% of dog owners admit they’ve been distracted when driving with their pet
Distracted driving laws are getting stricter
38 states ban cell phone use by novice drivers ages 18-21
45 states ban text messaging for all drivers
The median fine for a first-time texting and driving offense is $100
In Alaska, texting and driving can result in a $10,000 fine
Taking your eyes or mind off the road even for a moment can have disastrous consequences. Don’t risk it. Practice safe driving whenever you’re behind the wheel.