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How Many Crashes Are Caused By Texting And Driving – According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.35 million people die each year due to traffic accidents, and distracted driving is one of the main causes of these accidents. Texting and driving, in particular, has become a major road safety concern as it takes drivers’ eyes off the road and diverts their attention from driving. Learn more about your recent driving and texting statistics and how they affect your auto insurance rates.
While this might not seem extremely high compared to the country’s population, all of these deaths could have been prevented.
How Many Crashes Are Caused By Texting And Driving
Distracted driving, especially cell phone use, is one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents on the road. In fact, 14% of fatal accidents are caused by the use of mobile phones. Additionally, 14% of distracted driving deaths in driving accidents are specifically attributed to cell phone use, which is a significant contributor to distracted driving fatalities.
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These alarming statistics highlight the importance of maintaining concentration and attention while driving and avoiding the use of mobile phones or any other distraction that can lead to fatal accidents.
The chart below shows data collected from the National Transportation and Safety Administration showing the number of texting and driving injuries and deaths compared to the total number of injuries and fatalities related to car crashes.
Your reaction times slow down when you’re distracted while driving. This increases the risk of an accident.
Many states have implemented laws to ban texting while driving to combat texting and driving. In fact, as of April 2023, 48 states currently have texting bans, with only Arizona, Missouri, and Montana lacking such laws. Also, only 17 states ban phone use while driving and hands-free devices for all drivers.
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These laws are important because, at any given time, 7% of drivers are using their cell phones. This includes texting, checking email or social media, and making phone calls.
It’s important to know and understand the laws in your area because in some states you can be pulled over and cited for having your phone in your hand while driving. For example, starting in April 2023, Ohio law allows the issuance of distracted driving tickets to anyone who uses or has a cell phone or electronic device while driving. According to the law, the phone cannot even be on the lap or anywhere on the body while driving a vehicle. However, you can use the hands-free options.
Drivers with a learner’s license or who have held a provisional driving license for less than 12 months and school bus drivers
To prevent accidents and ensure the safety of all drivers and passengers, it is important to take steps to avoid distractions while driving. Here are some helpful tips to prevent distracted driving to help drivers stay focused on the road, minimize phone use, and use technology and personal solutions to avoid distracted driving.
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Cell phone mounts attach to your car’s dashboard or clip onto your air vent so you can easily access your phone while driving. However, that doesn’t mean you should text or email while driving.
Ideally, you should use a cell phone holder if you need to use your GPS and need to see your phone screen to do so. You should still connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth if possible. This way, you can listen to the directions and only look at your phone when needed.
To listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts and take calls hands-free, connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth. This connects your phone to your car’s speakers, making it easy to listen while driving.
If you have an older vehicle without Bluetooth or AUX, consider purchasing a hands-free earpiece for your phone. That way, you can still take a call while driving if you need to.
Car Accident Statistics
If you don’t need to use your phone’s GPS and don’t rely on it to listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks, consider turning your phone off while driving. Alternatively, you can put your phone in airplane mode, which turns off your phone’s data, WiFi, and Bluetooth capabilities.
Instead of texting or reading while driving, use your phone’s voice-activated virtual assistant option. Both Siri and Google Assistant have speech-to-text capabilities.
If you get a ticket for distracted driving, your car insurance rates will likely increase when your policy is renewed. On average, rates increase by approximately 21% after a breach. However, the amount of the increase depends on your insurance company and the state. Some people may see a premium increase of more than 46%.
Texting and driving is a dangerous behavior that takes a driver’s attention off the road and increases the risk of a motor vehicle accident. Some of the dangers of texting and driving include:
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Texting while driving is illegal in most states. However, the specific laws and penalties for texting and driving vary by jurisdiction, but it’s generally considered a form of distracted driving and can lead to legal consequences if caught.
In 2020, NHTSA data revealed that 396 people died in crashes caused by texting and driving. This statistic means that there was more than one death per day from texting while driving.
As of April 2023, 48 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have laws that prohibit drivers from texting while driving. However, only 25 states, Washington D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit drivers from using hand-held cell phones.
If you’re concerned about the dangers of texting and driving on the road, there are things you can do to protect yourself.
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First, make sure you always wear your seat belt and obey all traffic laws. Also, consider investing in safety features for your car, such as blind spot monitoring or automatic emergency braking. Finally, make sure your auto insurance includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect you from uninsured distracted drivers.
To make sure you have the best coverage at the most competitive price, compare auto insurance quotes from multiple providers today.
By Julia Matseikovich Julia Matseikovich, CEO and co-founder of , takes pride in educating others about auto insurance so they can make informed decisions for themselves and their families. She has been published in many well-known publications where she has helped educate others about the importance of carrying auto insurance. Written by Mandy Sleight Written by Mandy SleightArrow Right Contributor, Personal Finance Mandy Sleight has been a licensed insurance agent since 2005. She has three years of experience writing for insurance websites such as , MoneyGeek and The Simple dollar Mandy writes about auto, homeowners, renters, life insurance, disability and supplemental insurance products. Connect with Mandy Sleight on Twitter Twitter Connect with Mandy Sleight on LinkedIn Linkedin Contact Mandy Sleight by Email Email Mandy Sleight
Edited by Maggie Kempken Edited by Maggie KempkenArrow Right Senior Editor, Insurance Maggie Kempken is the insurance editor for . Help manage the creation of insurance content that meets the highest quality standards of accuracy and clarity to help readers navigate complex home, auto and life insurance information. It also focuses on ensuring that the insurance content represents and adheres to the brand. Maggie Kempken
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Texting & Driving Statistics In 2023
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