Distracted Driving Remains a Leading Cause of Fatal Crashes in the U.S.
Distracted driving continues to be one of the leading causes of traffic crashes in the United States, with cell phone use remaining the biggest contributor.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,522 people lost their lives in distracted driving crashes in 2021, accounting for nearly 8% of all traffic-related fatalities that year. But as we have reported in a previous article 40% of us traffic fatalities are on rural roads – so issue hits home for rural communities.
Using a handheld phone while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three forms of distraction. Drivers take their hands off the wheel, shift their eyes away from the road, and lose focus on the task of driving.
Activities such as texting, making calls, checking social media, or reading messages significantly increase the risk of a crash.
With more than 220 million wireless service subscribers in the U.S., distracted driving remains a widespread concern.
The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that nearly 80% of drivers have used their phones while behind the wheel. As a result, organizations like Nationwide continue to advocate for stronger measures to reduce distracted driving.
“We want to eradicate distracted driving,” said Nationwide Associated Vice President for Government Relations Chad Wilson. “We need America to have the same viewpoint with distracted driving as we do with someone driving drunk.”
Support for hands-free driving laws is growing nationwide. A recent Nationwide survey found that 89% of drivers favor legislation requiring hands-free cell phone use while driving.
Currently, 27 states prohibit handheld phone use, 49 states ban texting while driving, and 44 states have broader distracted driving laws.
“We want to see primary hands-free laws in all 50 states,” Wilson said.
“The remaining states should take inspiration from the progress in Ohio and other states where hands-free legislation is in effect. Since Ohio adopted its law last fall, we’ve seen a 25% decrease in fatal crashes during the 2023 holiday reporting period,” Wilson said.
“We’ve also seen a 20% reduction as of late February compared to the previous year. While the specifics of such legislation may differ across states, having a law in every state will contribute to the decline in crashes and save lives.
“I am optimistic about the growing momentum and urge lawmakers in the remaining states to consider the bipartisan bill enacted in Ohio,” Wilson said. “Our aim is to establish hands-free laws across all 50 states.”
Nationwide P&C Public Policy Senior Consultant Brian Halaiko believes additional states are likely to adopt hands-free laws over the next two years as public support and legislative momentum continue to grow.
Photo Credit: pexels-berna