In a world constantly connected by technology, the alarming rise of distracted driving accidents demands our attention. Unsettling statistics exist surrounding these incidents, which shed light on the consequences of this modern-day epidemic.
Distracted Driving Accident Statistics
1. In 2021, distraction-related crashes resulted in 3,522 deaths, a 12% increase from 2020 when there were 3,142 fatalities.
2. On a daily basis, 9 individuals in the United States lose their lives in crashes involving a distracted driver.
3. In 2021, there were 644 non-occupants who lost their lives in traffic accidents influenced by distractions, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and others.
4. Approximately 362,415 individuals were injured in motor vehicle crashes where distracted drivers were involved.
5. In 2021, 8.2% of car crash fatalities were a result of distracted driving.
6. According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use while driving causes 1.6 million crashes annually.
7. Texting while driving is responsible for 25% of automobile crashes in the United States.
8. For teenagers, 6 out of 10 crashes involve distracted driving.
9. The highest incidence of distracted driving occurs between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
10. According to reports, 9% of drivers aged 15 to 19 involved in fatal crashes in 2019 were distracted.
The number of distraction-related crashes in 2021, resulting in deaths, increased by 12% compared to 2020, with a total of 3,522 fatalities.
Distracted driving is a serious problem that continues to affect the lives of thousands of people every year. In 2021, the number of distraction-related crashes resulting in deaths increased by 12% compared to 2020, with a total of 3,522 fatalities. [1]
The majority of these fatal crashes were caused by drivers using their cell phones or other electronic devices while behind the wheel. Other causes of distracted driving include eating or drinking, talking to passengers, and adjusting the car’s stereo.
Every day, 9 individuals in the United States lose their lives in reported crashes involving a distracted driver.
Distracted driving is a growing concern among safety advocates and law enforcement alike. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately nine people are killed in reported crashes involving a distracted driver every day in the United States. From 2010 to 2019, over 29,736 people were killed in distracted driving accidents across the country. [2]
In 2021, there were 644 fatalities in traffic accidents involving distractions, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and others.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 644 fatalities in traffic accidents involving distractions in 2021. This figure includes pedestrians, bicyclists, and others who were killed as a result of someone texting while driving, talking on a cell phone, eating or drinking, or any other form of distracted driving. [3]
Distracted driving is a major public health and safety concern.
Around 362,415 people sustained injuries in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers.
Distracted driving is a growing problem on the roads and highways of America, and it can have deadly consequences. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 362,415 (15% of all people injured) people were injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers in 2021.
In 2021, a total of 28,994 individuals were injured in crashes that involved cell phone use or other cell phone-related activities, accounting for 8% of all people injured in distraction-affected crashes. [3]
The majority of these injuries were sustained by passengers in the distracted driver’s vehicle, followed by pedestrians and bicyclists.
In 2021, 8.2% of car crash fatalities were the result of distracted driving.
In 2021, 8.2% of car crash fatalities were the result of distracted driving, an alarming statistic that highlights the dangers posed by drivers who take their focus off the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 3,500 people died in car crashes involving a distracted driver in 2021. On top of that, nearly 362,415 people were injured in distracted driving crashes in the same year. [4]
Distracted driving accounted for approximately 8% of fatal crashes, 14% of injury crashes, and 13% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021.
These figures are alarming and a reminder of the need for drivers to take extra precautions when on the road. It is all too easy to become distracted by talking on the phone, texting, eating or drinking, or adjusting a GPS.
Based on data from the National Safety Council, cell phone use while driving results in 1.6 million crashes each year.
According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use while driving causes 1.6 million crashes every year in the United States. This startling statistic serves as a reminder that distracted driving can result in dangerous and sometimes deadly consequences.
Texting while driving is significantly more likely to cause a collision than driving under the influence of alcohol. Approximately 26% of all car crashes involve phone use, including hands-free phone use.
Approximately 25% of car accidents in the United States can be attributed to texting while driving.
Texting while driving is a dangerous activity that has become increasingly prevalent in the United States. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1 out of every 4 automobile crashes in the United States is caused by texting while driving. [6]
According to statistics, six out of every ten teenage crashes involve distracted driving.
Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents for teenage drivers. According to statistics, six out of every ten crashes involving teenagers are caused by distracted driving.
This means that the majority of teen-related vehicle collisions are due to some form of driver distraction, such as texting, talking on the phone, or simply not paying enough attention to the road. [7]
The highest incidence of distracted driving occurs during the evening hours of 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
According to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the highest incidence of distracted driving occurs during the evening hours of 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
This is particularly concerning as these are peak travel times for drivers, and distracted driving can lead to serious accidents with devastating consequences. [8]
Based on reports, 9% of drivers aged 15 to 19 who were involved in fatal crashes in 2019 were distracted.
According to a report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 9% of drivers aged 15 to 19 who were involved in fatal crashes in 2019 were distracted. This means that distracted driving continues to be a major factor in motor vehicle accidents among young drivers.
When compared with 2018 statistics, the number of fatalities due to distracted driving among this age group has risen slightly. Even though distracted driving is illegal in many states, it continues to be a major cause of car accidents among young drivers. [9]
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Sources:
[1] Distracted Driving | NHTSA. (n.d.). NHTSA. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
[2] Distracted Driving. (2024, March 4). Distracted Driving. https://www.cdc.gov/distracted-driving/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving/index.html
[3] TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS. (n.d.). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . Retrieved May 2023, from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813443
[4] Distracted Driving. (n.d.). GHSA. https://www.ghsa.org/issues/distracted-driving#
[5] Distracted Driving Ruins Lives. (n.d.). https://www.oacp.ca/. Retrieved January 2020, from https://www.oacp.ca/en/public-safety-and-awareness/resources/2019%20Drive%20Safe%20Booklet.pdf
[6] Mobile phones and driving safety. (2023, September 27). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phones_and_driving_safety
[7] Eisenstein, P. A. (2015, March 25). 6 in 10 teen crashes involve distracted driving. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/25/6-in-10-teen-crashes-involve-distracted-driving.html
[8] Distracted driving impacts our roadways. (n.d.). https://www.roseville.ca.us/news/what_s_happening_in_roseville/distracted_driving_impacts_our_roadways#
[9] Traffic Safety Facts. (2018). In NHTSA. Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812517
