Facts + Statistics: Distracted driving

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Activities that take drivers’ attention off the road, including talking or texting on cellphones, eating, talking with passengers, adjusting vehicle controls, and other distractions, are major safety threats. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are three main types of distraction:

  • visual, taking your eyes off the road;
  • manual, taking your hands off the wheel; and
  • cognitive, taking your mind off driving.

Fatal Crashes Involving Distracted Drivers, 2021

  Crashes Drivers Fatalities
Total fatal crashes 39,508 60,904 42,939
Distraction-affected fatal crashes      
Number of distraction-affected fatal crashes 3,211 3,346 3,522
Percent of total fatal crashes 8% 5% 8%
Cellphone in use in distraction-affected fatal crashes      
Number of cellphone distraction-affected fatal crashes 377 382 410
Percent of fatal distraction-affected crashes 12% 11% 12%

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Driver Hand Held Cellphone Use By Age, 2013-2022 (1)

 

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(1) Percent of all drivers using hand held cellphones.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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