Distracted driving continues to plague roads in California and throughout the United States. Many experts cite the advent and ongoing sophistication of cutting-edge technology in motor vehicles and the ever-present smartphone.
In a split second, a severe accident can occur. In one second at 60 miles per hour, a car travels 90 feet. At 75 miles an hour, vehicles travel 110 feet.
Revealing statistics
Let’s look at some statistics regarding distracted driving.
- In data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, gender plays a role in the likelihood of having a distracted driving accident. Men are three times more likely than women to die as the result of a distracted driving accident.
- In 2020, the distracted operation of vehicles led to more than 3,000 fatalities nationwide. Seventy-five percent occurred when men were driving. Of those, 13 percent resulted from cell phone use.
- In 2020, 324,652 people were injured in car crashes involving distractions.
- Traveling in New Mexico puts drivers at most risk colliding with distracted drivers. Mississippi is last in the nation in distracted driving accidents. According to data, drivers are also more prone experience a distracted driving accident in New Mexico and least likely in Mississippi.
- Drivers between 15 to 20 years old remain at the top of distracted driving accidents. Those 25 to 34 accounts for 25 percent of all accidents and 31 percent of drivers looking at cell phones instead of the road ahead.
- While cell phones are often the culprit, reaching for objects, eating, other passengers, reading, and applying makeup played significant roles as well.
While distracted driving remains a problem, speeding, alcohol use, lane departures, and failure to lead are more common than distractions.
