As long as there's been driving, there have been distractions. But there's no question that modern tech and conveniences like cell phones and drive-thru snacks have taken the distractions to a whole new, and dangerous, level.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2018, 9% of all fatal crashes in the US could be attributed to distracted driving. In fact, distracted drivers were responsible for 3,166 accident-related deaths in that year alone.
Thankfully, nearly every state has begun creating laws to prohibit these problem behaviors while driving.
What Exactly Is Distracted Driving?
The definition of distracted driving is the practice of operating a motor vehicle while engaged in another activity that takes one's attention off the road. Makes sense, right?
When most people think of distracted driving, they typically think of cell phone use. But the National Safety Council says that only accounts for 1.6 million crashes annually, there are other problems out there too.
Percentage of fatal crashes due to cell phone use or other distractions while driving
In addition to cell phone use, the NHTSA includes the following reasons for accidents under the distracted driving umbrella
Manual distractions: When the driver takes their hands off the wheel
Example: Fiddling with the radio
Visual distractions: When the driver takes their eyes off the road
Example: Eyes drawn to a passenger, or something on the side of the road
Cognitive distractions: When the driver takes their mind off the act of driving
Example: Deep thoughts about what to make for dinner tonight
8 Shocking Statistics About Distracted Driving
Car crashes are the #1 killer of teens, and 58% can be attributed to distracted driving.
Just 3 seconds of taking your eyes off the road can lead to a crash. And the average text takes five seconds to read.
More than 80% of drivers admit to having engaged in hazardous activities while driving, such as putting on makeup, using their knees to steer, or changing clothes.
Driver attention to the road can decrease by as much as 40% when listening to a conversation or music.
The NHTSA has found that eating while driving increases your risk of an accident by 80%.
You are six times more likely to get into an accident while texting than while driving drunk.
94% of teenagers understand that texting while driving is dangerous, but 35% admit that they do it anyway.
The FCC reports that during daylight hours, approximately 481,000 motorists are using cell phones while driving at any given time.
Which States Have Laws against Distracted Driving?
Currently, every state in the US has a law that prohibits some sort of cell phone usage except Montana and Arizona. But in 2021, Arizona will officially roll out new laws for all drivers, so Montana will be the only state left without such a law.
Compare your state to the rest of the US when it comes to texting and driving restrictions
What Is the Fine for Distracted Driving?
Totally depends on where you live. The fines for violating cell phone usage laws while driving vary by state. The most expensive fines in the US are in Alaska and Utah, while some of the least expensive are in Kentucky and South Carolina.
Does Distracted Driving Increase My Insurance Rates?
Even if you've never had a moving violation in your entire driving career, the distracted driving epidemic has probably already caused your insurance rates to go up. Since the use of smartphones has increased over the last decade, so has the number of accidents and the severity of injuries sustained in these accidents.
As a result, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reports that overall auto insurance premiums have increased by 16% since 2011.
It should be fairly obvious that distracted driving increases your risk of being in an accident, so even if you live in a state like Montana, where texting while driving is legal, if you're in an accident while doing so, you'll see a rate increase.
How Can I Report a Distracted Driver?
Say you’re driving down the road and you’re passed by a driver who's having a little FaceTime chat on their cell phone. Or what if you see some driver swerving between lanes and you think they may be intoxicated, but it turns out they are watching videos on their phone? What can you do?
Our experts reached out to law enforcement to see how we should handle this situation in the moment, and they responded by saying they prefer that you NOT report distracted driving. Wait, what? Why?
Why Should We Not Report Distracted Drivers?
Because they are unable take any action based on just your call, and because reporting a distracted driver could jeopardize your safety. They prefer that you leave the distracted driver alone, and leave it up to the long arm of the law to catch these drivers in the act themselves.
If you feel like a distracted driver is posing a serious danger to you, others or themselves, and you decide you just have to contact law enforcement, here are the do’s and don’ts you should know:
Do:
Maintain a safe distance from the distracted driver: For your own safety, you'll want to make sure you've got a good distance between you in case the driver suddenly brakes or swerves. You can also pull over, if it's a safe time and place to do so.
Get information about the driver and vehicle: This is easier if you have a passenger in the car who can record information such as license plate number, vehicle make, model and color, and a general description of the driver, if you can see them.
Notify the authorities: Only call 911 if the driver is posing a clear and imminent danger to others. Otherwise, you can call the local police station’s non-emergency line when you get back home. Do not call the authorities while you're driving. Either have someone else in the car do it for you, or pull over and make the call yourself. Again, this is only for emergency situations. If you just want to report that someone is engaging in dangerous behavior, it can wait until you get home.
Do Not:
Follow the driver to see where they live or where they are going.
Confront the driver. You could be putting yourself in danger.
Attempt to record video footage of the dangerous driver while you yourself are driving. If you want to get video footage, have a passenger in your car do it. If you have no passengers, you should not get video.
My State Has a Hands-Free Law, Can I Add Bluetooth to My Car?
Yes! Please do.
You can add Bluetooth to your vehicle for less than $30. If you're looking to spend more money for more features, popular brands also sell products that meet similar technology requirements found in new cars today. Below are a few of our favorites.
Bluetooth Products
Model
Rating
Price
Features
Anker
ROAV
Smart F2
$24.99
Wireless
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth
Hands-Free Calling
Anker
ROAV Smart F3
$29.99
Wireless
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth
Hands-Free Calling
Scosche
BTFreq
$30.99
Wireless
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth
Hands-Free Calling
Kenwood
In-Dash:
KMM-BT325U
$89.99
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth Enabled
Satellite Ready
Detachable
Hands-Free Calling
Pioneer
In-Dash:
DEH-S412OBT
$89.99
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth Enabled
Detachable
Hands-Free Calling
Alpine
In-Dash:
UTE-73BT
$99.99
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth Enabled
Detachable
Hands-Free Calling
JVC
Touch Screen:
KW-V250BT
$229.99
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth Enabled
Satellite Ready
Camera Inputs: 1
Hands-Free Calling
Touch Screen
Kenwood
Touch Screen:
DDX376BT
$229.99
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth Enabled
Camera Inputs: 1
Hands-Free Calling
Touch Screen
Pioneer
Apple Car Play:
AVH-1550NEX
$449.99
Smart Phone Compatible
Bluetooth Enabled
Satellite Ready
Camera Inputs: 2
Steering Wheel Control
Hands-Free Calling
Touch Screen
What Are States Doing To Prevent Distracted Driving?
As the problem of distracted driving increases, states are creating new laws nearly every day to help limit the dangers posed on our nation’s roadways.
Although the main focus up to now has been on banning texting while driving, more and more states are beginning to require hands-free cell phone use and are starting to put laws on the books to make other distracting behaviors, like eating or watching videos, illegal while driving.
Depending on where you live, the penalties for distracted driving can range from fines, to suspension of driving privileges, to jail time. Play it safe. Leave the distractions for when you are no longer behind the wheel.
