[1] Texting makes a crash up to 23 times more likely. All rights reserved. The problem here is that within the few seconds of time used to perform this activity, an accident can occur. To make matters worse, the urge to text is almost addictive; people tend to read and answer text messages and cell phone calls immediately. Considering that around 72% of young drivers feel a pressing need to respond right away to a text equals a lot of teens being distracted while driving. Aside from texting doubling the chances for an accident in general, it also triples the odds of your vehicle: As we mentioned earlier, distracted driving comes in three different forms: A visual distraction means that your eyes leave the road. Check out these texting and driving facts from TeenSafe : It takes only 3 seconds after a driver’s attention has been diverted for a crash to occur. Select your state and then choose the course that best suits your needs. But more importantly, you will learn how to become a safer driver. Over 9% of fatal crashes to occur in the US were caused by distracted driving in 2016. If your teen would rather spend all day indoors on their computer or smartphone, versus going out to the movies with friends, then there’s probably a problem. Around 50% of teenagers believe they have a smartphone addiction problem. People are struggling more than ever to disconnect from the internet. It can be an emotional experience. A ticket due to a lack of restraints being worn can run you hundreds of dollars. On average, about 2,841 people lose their lives as a result of distracted driving. If traveling at 55 mph, this equals driving the length of a football field without looking at the road. Research shows that more than 94% of teens are well informed about the dangers of texting and driving. Distracted driving, in any form, can be extremely dangerous and may lead to a deadly crash. When something as simple as a seat belt might stand between you and death, there’s no excuse for not wearing a restraint. Why Is Texting and Driving So Dangerous? (Source: NSC) 2017-2019 US Texting While Driving Statistics 1. 25% of all car crashes in the US involved the use of a cell phone. Increases your chances of a collision by almost 23x! The dangers of sending a text message while driving are real and can lead to serious injury or fatality. Texting while driving has become such a massive problem that 48 states banned texting and driving in 2019. It doesn’t matter if they’re busy driving or not, the pressure to keep up with peer expectations is too much to resist. In 2009, the percentage of drivers surfing the internet was as low as 13%. However, 35% of teens still text while driving! In fact, almost 80% of teens check their smartphones multiple times every hour. In 2018, there were 36,750 deaths related to car accidents and of these fatalities, 5.7% were due to the driver texting and driving or talking on their cell phone. Texting and Driving Statistics: Bad For Everyone In 2018, there were 36,750 deaths related to car accidents and of these fatalities, 5.7% were due to the driver texting and driving or talking on their cell phone. Stress the importance of either turning their smartphone off while driving or placing it somewhere out of reach so they won’t be tempted to use it. If it’s stashed inside the glove box or somewhere in the trunk, the impulse to reach for the device will be curbed. If the ping of a smartphone puts undue pressure on you to check your smartphone, try storing it somewhere out of reach while driving. About 300,000 managed to survive their car wreck but were rushed to the hospital to be treated for severe injuries. Life’s busy – understatement. Teen drivers are significantly more prone to driving distractionsthan adult drivers. Because so many teens have this mindset, they themselves feel immense pressure to ensure they respond to incoming alerts at once. Take frustration, mix in some confusion, and add a little nervousness and you get the idea. Distracted driving was directly responsible for 23,000 deaths and well over a million injuries in the U.S. between 2012 and 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Texting while driving has become such a massive problem that … Texting and Driving Statistics 2020 According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is the direct cause of at least 1.6 million car accidents in the U.S. each year. 3. In general, teens tend to engage through text message more than adults, particularly while d… When you combine this addiction with this age group’s inexperience at driving, it’s a recipe for disaster. Studies show that 21 percent of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their cell phones. Texting and driving, however, is a particularly poignant hazard, especially now … Texting and Driving: The Facts about Distracted Driving Accidents By Stewart J. Guss on August 30th, 2019 According to a report from the CDC, approximately nine people are killed , and a thousand are injured every day, as a result of distracted driving. If we hope to reduce the amount of distracted driving that is occurring, parents must learn to lead by example, not word alone. If you have received a ticket for distracted or dangerous driving, please consider taking one of our defensive driving courses. There are signs to look for. In short, you’re less likely to get into an accident while driving drunk than you are while texting behind the wheel. 11 teens die everyday as a result of texting while driving. Let’s explore several statistics to better illustrate how dangerous texting while driving is. 2. By replying to their message, you might be endangering both yourself and the recipient. [2] Teens who text while driving spend 10% of the time outside their lane. Research carried out in the UK by the RAC Foundation ² showed that texting while driving slows drivers’ reaction times by over a third (35%) which was worse than being at the legal drink drive limit (12% slower) and driving under the influence of cannabis (21% slower). Many of these wrecks were preventable if the teen hadn’t been distracted while driving. No matter what people believe about themselves, driving while distracted leads to fatal consequences all too often. If a teen is texting while driving, then they will spend 10% of their driving time outside of their traffic lane. You never know, the person on the other end of the text or email may also be driving. While you’re busy reading a text message, a small child could chase a ball out into the street, or a car could back out of a driveway. Texting while driving, also called texting and driving, is the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email, or making similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle.Texting while driving is considered extremely dangerous by many people, including authorities, and in some places have either been outlawed or restricted. However, texting is considered the most dangerous distracted driving activity because it involves visual, manual, and cognitive distractions. Texting while driving gives the driver the same response time as a person who has drunk four beers in a single hour. Faster than your mind can process the change if you are distracted. MYTH #2 GPS use is ok, because it … texting and driving. More concerning is the 35% of drivers who continue to use the phone or app while driving. Going by the NFL rule book, a football field is 360 feet. The popular saying, “Do what I say, not what I do,” doesn’t set an appropriate example for teenagers. Why should you bother taking a defensive driving course? The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a study in 2018 and found that texting while driving doubles the chances for a car accident. A report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 1 in 3 drivers knew someone or had a relative who was injured or killed in a car crash. Texting while driving statistics. Making even the most basic text takes a minimum of 5 seconds of your attention off of the road when you text and drive. Texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk. In the 5 seconds that you spend reading or writing a text message, you’re leaving yourself wide open to an accident. Seventy-seven percent of teenagers said that their parents tell them not to text or email while driving, yet then turn around and do it themselves. Try to have a calm chat with your teenager and gauge whether they feel this pressure as well. Defensive driver education can reduce your insurance premium up to 10%. Every day, six teenagers die from a car crash. Most important is preserving your safety. This shocking figure illustrates how preventable many of these deaths are. Teens Texting and Driving Facts and Statistics. Cognitive distraction translates to your mind being preoccupied and not focused on the task of driving. Is around … You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. That’s a lot of ground covered without having eyes on it. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. That means you have to refocus your vision on the road and notice where any cars, people, or other objects around you are now located. Safe to say, earning one's driver's license is crucial in growing up and living in most places... © 2021 NexLearn, LLC. Though many drivers are well aware of the dangers of engaging in texting and driving, most continue to do so anyway. Cognitive: Takes your focus away from safe driving. About 434 people are killed because the driver was using their cell phone at the time of the collision. Texting and driving is especially dangerous because it incorporates all types of driving distractions: Visual: Takes your eyes off the road. Before you let your teenager leave the house, try to remind them each time of the importance of buckling up. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at twelve texting and driving statistics to help you better understand the scope of how perilous this action is and what you can do to help improve road safety. There are several ways in which you might be led to have this type of distracted driving. Of course, we can all do our part to spread the word about the dangers of texting while driving. Employers can also post safety messages in the workplace to remind employees to put their phones away when driving. When you're engulfed in a texting conversation, it's easy to forget you're sharing the road with other people. If a teen is spending ten percent of their time outside of their lane while driving, that’s a high percentage chance of causing an accident. Considering how much distance you could cover while distracted by a text message, it leaves ample opportunity for an accident to occur. Manual: Takes your hands off the steering wheel. Distracted driving is dangerous and claims thousands of lives each year. Frightening Statistics about Texting and Driving. Texting while driving and other cell phone use while driving facts and statistics show that this multitasking behind the wheel is becoming a life-threatening norm. 94% of teens acknowledge that texting while driving is dangerous. You experience cognitive distraction when you daydream while driving or become too engrossed in conversation with a passenger. The Governor's Highway Safety Association estimated that there were 2,841 deaths due to distracted driving in 2018. You wouldn't drink and drive, so don't text and drive. So, what does it all mean? Today, we are used... Everyone believes that safety is a top priority. This is a visual distraction. The sooner young people are aware of these dangers, the better chance they will have to make the right decisions when they slide behind a steering wheel. Fact 1: Teen drivers are most likely to text while driving. 1.6 Million crashes happen every year because of someone using a phone while driving Around 390,000 injuries happen yearly from accidents caused by texting & driving. There are constantly at least 50 things competing for our attention, and that doesn’t change when we get behind the wheel. But a lot of us don't practice what we preach. New Traffic Laws for 2021: Everything You Need to Know, Top Reasons Why People Fail Their Driving Test, fiddling with the entertainment or navigation system. Individuals who drive while sending or reading text messages are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash than other drivers. About 9 in 10 teens admit they expect a prompt reply to their text or email. During those precious seconds that your eyes are off the road, you can drive the length of a football field. We track our steps for fitness, this tracks our miles for safe driving. Some of the statistics behind texting and driving accidents are astonishing. They leave their cell phones turned on so they do not miss any messages or calls. Texting and driving is one of the worst forms of driver distraction – hopefully these texting and driving facts can help prevent it. This works very well and I have recommended this to clients with drivers in company vehicles. In 2017, over 2,000 teens between the ages of 16 and 19 died in a car accident. 20% of US drivers reported sending emails or text messages while on the road. But despite all the attention given to the dangers of distracted driving, driving statistics indicate that too many drivers don’t take these dangers seriously. Texting and driving are reportedly 6 times more likely to lead to a car accident as … The chances of being involved in an accident are 6 times higher in the case of texting and driving than in drunk driving, as indicated by cell phone distraction statistics. While the vast majority of drivers admit they’re well aware of the dangers of using their smartphone while driving, many continue to do so anyway. Texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with eyes off the road. You could benefit by receiving a discount on your insurance premium by taking one of our courses. Not only is the teen putting themselves at risk, but they’re also endangering those around them. On the high end, the numbers are closer to 80%. Are you ready to save money? When it means saving lives, a text message or email can wait an additional ten or more minutes before receiving a reply. You’ll drive about the length of a football field in about 5 seconds. If a seat belt had been worn at the time of the accident, most teenagers might have been able to walk away with their lives. People acknowledge these dangers, but many choose not to change their behaviorin order to minimize risk to themselves and others. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Twenty-one percent of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their cell phones. Eating, applying makeup, trying to find the right radio station–all of these are considered distracted driving and all of them increase your risk of a serious car accident. In an interesting turn of events, many teenagers also feel that their parents suffer from smartphone addiction. A national survey found that people are reading and responding to emails on their smartphones while they’re driving, or are reading and updating social media posts. Texting and Driving Statistics by Gender Looking at texting and driving through a gendered lens unearths some interesting findings on the differences between male and female distracted driving habits. Examples of manual distraction would be if you’re unwrapping a candy bar to eat while driving or rummaging through a purse or backpack for your phone. Distracted driving is a serious problem that affects the lives of all involved. A texting and driving violation can lead to a $290 annual increase in insurance premiums. Did you know studies have shown that drivers who engage in texting behaviors while driving look away from the road 400 percent more frequently than those are refrain from texting while driving. Even if the car accident is minor, there is still a ticket from a police officer to contend with if no seat belts were worn. One of the most important texting and driving facts is knowing your rights as a driver. The facts. Statistics. Despite this acknowledgment, almost half admitted to texting while driving anyway. It’s important to have a discussion with your teenager before allowing them to drive. Talking or texting while driving or checking or sending social media posts takes eyes and brains off the task of driving. By resisting the need to read or respond to a text, thousands of lives could be saved each year. Be sure to let your teenager know how important it is to use their seat belt at all times. 1 out of 4 car accidents in America are caused by texting and driving About 1,000 injuries per day happen because of … A seat belt is often the key determining factor in whether someone can survive a severe wreck or not. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, you are six times more likely to be in a motor vehicle crash while driving if you’re texting, versus if you were intoxicated. Texting while driving is extremely dangerous, as evidenced by the huge number of accidents caused by it every year. Maybe a car that was in the next lane just a moment ago suddenly swerves into your lane. Texting and driving statistics While texting and driving seems on the surface like an issue that would only effect teens and younger drivers, it in fact effects people of all ages. Situations can change in a nanosecond. Texting and Driving - A Simple Explanation - Several states are using the busy Independence Day weekend to spotlight a dangerous increase in cell phone use while driving. This certainly comes as surprising, but when you think about it, … This is why texting and driving is very bad. Most teens involved in accidents were educated on the risk of this driving habit. Get the latest driving news, safe driving tips, and information on how to save on your auto insurance from DriveSafe Online®. Whether it’s a smartphone addiction or an overestimation of their own reaction abilities, texting while driving among teens is a pressing problem to this day. [3] Since it’s feasible you’re traveling the distance of a football field, it makes ample sense that you’re doubling your risk for a car wreck. 94 percent of drivers support a ban on texting while driving. If teens weren’t distracted while driving, the wreck could have been avoided altogether. Driving while texting causes 1.6 million car accidents in the US every year. Texting, by its very nature, involves at least three separate physical/mental actions, all of which take attention away from the road ahead and potential driving hazards. Each time you look away from the road and then look back, you have to re-orient yourself. About 19% of drivers of all ages surf the web while they are driving. Every day, 9 people die due to distracted driving. In 2018, more than 36,000 Americans were killed in motor vehicle accidents. Teachers can devote some time during their day to share with students why texting and driving don’t mix. Stated in driving reports by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 36% of drivers use a smartphone app at a red light or stop sign. Yet the statistics speak for themselves. There are many common driving mistakes that can put you in danger, but few are as prevalent as distracted driving. There are three primary types of distraction: Other examples of distracted driving include: Anything that distracts your attention from the road before you, even for a second, is considered distracted driving. 3. As a driver, you must process new information you receive each time you look away and be ready to react if changes occur. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe®; link, found at the bottom of every email. Teen drivers are 4x more likely than adults to get into car accidents while using their cell phone. RT @SaveALifeTour1: Interesting read. Texting and driving laws and facts A total of 47 states have a texting ban (Arizona, Missouri, and Montana). This goes a long way toward showing how much harm the … However, in the United States, it isn’t yet viewed as a real disorder. Too many people lose their lives each year due to texting while driving. Some estimate they’re careful while texting, while others believe they have a quick reaction time and will be able to avoid an accident. When there’s a manual distraction, your hands are off the wheel. The leading reason for people using a cell phone while driving was for listening to music or a podcast. Posted February 23, 2017 by Florida Physical Medicine. Although all forms of distracted driving are dangerous, texting and driving is by far the worst. However, cell phone driving statistics have shown that drivers who text and drive are six times more likely to crash than drivers who drive drunk. What is distracted driving? A crash typically happens within an average of three seconds after a driver is distracted.. Facts About Texting & Driving Stress to your family members that expectations like these are unreasonable and do not need to be adhered to. In 2018, the number of deaths related to cell phone use in car accidents was 4,637 in the US alone. https://t.co…, RT @Safe_Roads: RT end_dd: RT PA4Justice: This morning PAJ member & co-founder of end_dd , Joel Feldman, gave a presentation to students at…, Double Jeopardy – Distracted Driving During COVID-19, Increases your chances of a collision by almost. The average ti… The most shocking facts include: People who text while driving are 6 times more likely to get into an accident than those who drive while intoxicated. If you’re reading a text message or using a smartphone app to turn on music, your eyes are on the phone instead of the road. Fatal crashes is the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. In other parts of the world, internet addiction is a public health threat. Texting while you are driving is more dangerous than if you are under the influence of alcohol. Teen drivers receive the most calls from their parents. Busted: Driving while texting is still distracted driving and that means that you are only partially paying attention to the road and the traffic. Despite this fact, many people are still caught in such situation and for you to know, here are the 10 interesting facts about texting and driving. We hope that these texting and driving statistics helped illustrate to you the perils of driving while distracted. 11. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from DriveSafe Online®, a NexLearn Company, 100 S. Main, Suite 416, Wichita KS, 67202. Research shows that the act of texting, even for short periods, can still disorient drivers. 20 Texting & Driving Facts One out of every four car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. According to the United States Department of Transportation, it takes 5 seconds to read a text. Teens are aware of the Dangers of Texting and Driving. Drunk Driving vs Texting and Driving Accident Statistics. If a driver is pulled over for texting while driving in Florida , officers must inform the driver of his or her right to decline a search of their cellphone. Even though teens recognize that talking or texting on a cell phone or using social media apps while driving is unsafe, they often engage in these behaviors while driving. Could you have guessed which generation is the biggest culprit for distracted driving? In 2017, there were 37,133 deaths due to car wrecks. 74 percent of drivers support a ban on hand-held cell phone use. Causes visual, cognitive, and physical driving impairment. Tips to avoid using your phone while driving. People do a lot of risky things while driving. More than four million Americans required medical attention after an accident. There’s no such thing as a safe text while driving. In a digital age where everyone is accustomed to being connected and having a wealth of information and entertainment at their fingertips, it’s clear it is difficult for many people to pry themselves away. Helps prevent unnecessary texting while driving and keep me safe on the road. Cell phones are fast becoming an integral part of our everyday lives. Wearing your seat belt is required by law in all states. Of all cell phone related tasks, texting is by far the most dangerous activity. Maybe a dog that wasn’t previously in your line of sight bolts into the roadway. Unfortunately, teens who text while driving spend 10% of their time outside the lane. Companies may even establish safe driver campaigns that reward employees for practicing safe driving techniques. That's parking lots, garages, and of course, roads. Traffic laws are... Top Reasons Why People Fail Their Driving Test Modern cities devote roughly 50% of their limited real estate to vehicles. The number of drivers who are using their smartphones to surf the internet has only risen in recent years. Texting and driving is 6 times more likely to lead to a car accident than driving drunk. 77% of adults and 55% of teens believe they can easily manage texting while driving. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. 4. A survey conducted by AT&T found that the overwhelming majority of teens agree that texting while driving is dangerous. Distracted driving is when the driver’s attention is diverted from the road. Around 41.2% of drivers stated they use a smartphone app for this reason. Only 16 states have a ban on phone usage while driving and hands-free devices for all drivers. No text or email is worth losing your life over.