Distracted Driving can increase a person’s chance of a motor vehicle accident. The definition of Distracted Driving is driving while performing other activities. It is not limited to just cell phone use or texting. It also occurs whenever one takes their attention away from the road to perform a simple task such as changing the radio station.
In a report released in April 2018, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that “in 2016 alone, 3,450 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. 562 of those killed were non-occupants (pedestrians, bicyclists and others). “
NHTSA Statistics:
- 9% of fatal crashes in 2016 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
- 6% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.
- 9% of drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted at the time of fatal crashes.