Going Over Statistics on Distracted Driving

On the road, you could suffer serious injuries if you find yourself in a motor vehicle collision involving a distracted driver. Whether a driver loses focus because of a conversation with someone else in the vehicle or they use their phone behind the wheel, distracted driving takes place for many different reasons.

In addition to reviewing risk factors associated with distracted driving crashes, you should also take a look at statistics on this major problem in order to understand how prevalent distracted driving is and the consequences of these accidents.

Data on Distracted Driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over the course of 2019, distracted driving claimed more than 3,100 lives. To look at this data differently, 9% of deadly motor vehicle collisions during 2019 involved drivers who became distracted. The NHTSA estimates that distracted drivers became involved in fatal accidents claiming the lives of 26,000 people between 2007 and 2019.

Distracted driving is a concern for drivers of all age groups. However, statistics show that in comparison to older drivers, young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 had higher rates of distracted driving due to using their device behind the wheel.

Distracted Driving Takes Many Different Forms

Aside from using a phone or electronic device, drivers become distracted in various ways. Trying to eat food, talk to a passenger, adjust the radio or look at something near the road can divert a driver’s attention. Even a brief distraction can lead to a devastating accident.

If you sustained an injury because of a distracted driver, you need to hold them accountable.