State Farm is sharing the results of its new survey about distracted driving behaviors. Researchers say they found that drivers are continuing to engage in risky driving behaviors, even though they know it's not safe.
State Farm cites a National Safety Council study that found in 2022, at least eight people a day killed in distracted driving crashes.
Distracted Driving Survey
State Farm says its survey, which looked at attitudes and behaviors around distracted driving, confirms that drivers are fully aware of the risk and safety consequences of driving distracted and continue to do it anyway with alarming regularity.
Of drivers surveyed who take cell phones into the car with them, 19 percent admitted to using it to perform at least one task while driving on a regular basis. Newer drivers license five years or less (35%) were also significantly more likely to use smartphone apps, record videos, and watch videos while driving compared to drivers who had been licensed more than 10 years (12%).
In March 2022, State Farm also reported that:
- More than half of drivers surveyed said they “always” or “often” read or send texts.
- Nearly half interact with apps while driving.
- At least two in five drivers admitted to watching videos or manually dialing the phone while driving.
- One-third of drivers reported using video chat or recording video while driving.
Traffic Deaths On U.S. Roads
The National Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that traffic fatalities on the nation's roads rose in 2020 and 2021 following a decline for 30 years. But they appear to have dipped slightly in 2022, according to the agency's latest projections. Early NHTSA 2022 traffic fatalities estimate that 42,795 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes. It's a small decrease of roughly 0.3% as compared to 42,939 fatalities it reported for 2021.
Take the Pledge
State Farm is encouraging drivers to take the NHTSA pledge to fight to end distracted driving and to figure out what distracts you and WHY. Proactively think of ways to prevent it from becoming a distraction before you hit the road.
To share the pledge below, click here:
- Protect lives by never texting or handling the phone while driving.
- Keep your eyes on the road and be aware of your surroundings.
- Encourage friends and family to drive hands-free.
Photo Credit: Dusan Petkovic/Shutterstock.com.