Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a critical public health issue in the United States. In 2013 alone, 3,154 individuals were killed and 424,000 were injured as a result of distracted driving. That’s 10 percent of all fatal car crashes and 18 percent of non-fatal crashes. Both teens and adults are affected by distracted driving. In a 2013 AAA study, 57.8 percent of teens aged 16-18 and 75.4 percent of adults aged 19-59 said they had talked on the phone while driving in the past 30 days. Additionally, 31 percent of teens aged 16-18 and 36.9 percent of adults aged 19-59 said they had messaged while driving in the past 30 days. According to a National Safety Council survey, among parents who drove distracted, 91 percent said they used their cell phones while their teens were in the car.

We Must Lead by Example!

Distracted driving is more than just talking on the phone or texting. It includes activities such as eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, using a GPS, or using the radio. Parents can also have the added distraction of arguing kids or a fussy baby in the backseat. On average, only 50% of a person’s driving time is usually spent focused on the task of driving.

There are several strategies for tackling the problem of distracted driving. First, as the driver, take responsibility! Finish tasks such as eating or looking up directions before getting in your car. While you’re driving, limit your phone use. Turn off your phone and use an app to share a special voicemail message that you’re driving. Don’t text while driving, EVER! If you receive an urgent call, pull off the road first before answering your phone. Also, be aware of the driving laws in your state. In both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, any type of cell phone use is banned for drivers under 18, and texting is banned for drivers of any age.

By following these tips and others that you find on this webpage, you can help keep yourself and others safe on the road!

Be sure to check out these links to learn more  

Did You Know?

• Half of a person’s driving time is typically spent focused on something other than driving. (source: AAA Foundation)
• Driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. (source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
• In both Rhode Island and Massachusetts, any type of cell phone use is banned for drivers under age 18, and texting is banned for drivers of any age. (source: Distraction.gov)
• According to NHTSA, 32,657 people died in distraction-affected crashes over the ten-year period from 2012 to 2021. A distraction-affected crash is any traffic crash in which a driver was identified as distracted at the time of the crash.
• Drivers in the 15 to 20 age group made up 8 percent of drivers in fatal crashes but were 11 percent of all distracted drivers and 16 percent of drivers distracted by cell phones in fatal crashes.
• Drivers in the 21 to 24 age group made up 9 percent of drivers in fatal crashes but were 11 percent of all distracted drivers and 15 percent of drivers distracted by cell phones in fatal crashes.
• During a typical daylight moment in 2021, an estimated 373,066 passenger vehicle drivers were holding cell phones to their ears while driving.
• In 2021, there were 644 nonoccupants (pedestrians, pedal cyclists, and others) killed in distraction-affected traffic crashes.
• Five percent of all drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2021 were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes. Seven percent of drivers 15 to 20 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of the fatal crashes.

Learn more on trafficsafetymarketing.gov

Learn more safety tips with these links to resources and pdfs 

Distract Driving Videos

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study shows distracted teens behind the wheel and the many factors that can cause accidents. This teen is caught on tape moments before the car crash.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of teens in the United States, taking about 3,000 young lives each year. The "Parents Are the Key to Safe Teen Drivers" video offers information to help parents keep their teen drivers safer on the road.

This one-minute video shows a number of moms and dads pledging to protect their teen drivers—the same way they pledged to keep them safe since the day they were born.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens in the United States. Watch this video to learn more about teen driving and passenger safety from the students of Southfield High School in Michigan.

One text or call could wreck it all.

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