Distracted Driving

A distraction is anything that takes your mind and attention away from driving.

In 2021, there were 3,522 people killed in crashes involving distracted driving across the nation, 73 of which were people ages 18-24 in Texas (2).
Handheld cell phone use continues to be higher among female drivers than male drivers (3).
From 2007 to 2021, young drivers 16 to 24 years old have been observed manipulating electronic devices at higher rates than older drivers (3).

In 2021, 77% of drivers killed in distracted driving-related crashes were male (2).
A driver is four times more likely to crash when using a cell phone while driving, regardless of whether it’s hand-held or hands-free (4).
Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing, and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times (5).
Texting and driving causes reaction time to double and those drivers have a harder time staying in their lane and maintaining a consistent speed (6).

Two out of every three youths that died as passengers are in vehicles driven by other teens (8).
In 2021, 57% of the deaths of teenage passengers in passenger vehicles occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. (7)
Research has shown that crash risk and the risk of being killed in a crash increases as the number of young passengers in the vehicle increases (8).

Focus on the road. When you are driving is not the time to multi-task.
Keep distractions out of the car. If you know you will be tempted to look at or use your phone, lock it in the trunk or turn it off.
Ask passengers to obey your rules while they are in the car, meaning buckle up and don’t distract you.
Designate a texter. If you have a passenger, hand over your phone so they can do your texting or talking for you.
Be a good passenger by not distracting the driver.
Know that as a driver, you have the responsibility to yourself and others. A vehicle is heavy machine and should be treated with respect.
Set your music/radio before you take your car out of Park.
Never use headphones while driving. It’s illegal and dangerous.
Keep passengers to a minimum. If every person doesn’t have a seat belt, you have too many passengers.
If you don’t feel well or emotionally able to drive – don’t. Ask for a ride or wait until you are able.
Know your limitations. Driving experience comes with time. It’s ok to not be ready for certain driving conditions. Never feel pressured to drive dangerously or beyond your experience.

Sources:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/Distracted_Driving/index.html
NHTSA FARS Data, 2021
National Safety Council: https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/distracted-driving/data-details/
National Safety Council: https://nsc-org-storage.azureedge.net/cms/nsc.org/media/site-media/docs/safe-driving/reports/corp-liability-report.pdf
Fitch, G. A., Soccolich, S. A., Guo, F., McClafferty, J., Fang, Y., Olson, R. L., Perez, M. A., Hanowski, R. J., Hankey, J. M., & Dingus, T. A. (2013, April). The impact of hand-held and hands-free cell phone use on driving performance and safety-critical event risk. (Report No. DOT HS 811 757). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, https://featured.vtti.vt.edu/2013/05/new-vtti-study-results-continue-to-highlight-the-dangers-of-distracted-driving/
Texas A&M Transportation Institute: https://tti.tamu.edu/news/new-study-says-texting-doubles-a-driver%E2%80%99s-reaction-time/
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Fatality Facts 2021: Teenagers. Retrieved from https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/teenagers#passenger-vehicle-occupants
Ouimet MC, Pradhan AK, Brooks-Russell A, Ehsani JP, Berviche D, Simons-Morton BG. Young drivers and their passengers: a systematic review of epidemiological studies on crash risk. 2015. Journal of Adolescent Health 57 (1 Suppl): S24-35.

Updated August 2023