Texting and driving is a significant problem on the roads today. Distracted driving, especially involving cell phones, leads to numerous accidents and fatalities.
Understanding the statistics can help highlight the seriousness of this issue and the importance of safe driving practices. Here are three critical texting and driving accident statistics that everyone needs to know.
Number of fatalities due to distracted driving
Distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This number shows an alarming trend of fatalities due to drivers not paying attention to the road. These deaths are preventable, and each statistic represents a person who lost their life because someone chose to text or engage in another distracting activity while driving.
Teenage drivers and distracted driving
Teenage drivers are particularly at risk when it comes to distracted driving. The NHTSA reports that in 2021, 7% of all teen motor vehicle crash deaths involved distracted driving. Teens are more likely to use their phones for texting, social media and other distractions. This age group has less driving experience, making distractions even more dangerous.
Texting increases crash risk
Texting while driving significantly increases the risk of a crash. The NHTSA states that sending or reading a text takes the driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, this is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded. This level of distraction greatly increases the likelihood of an accident. Drivers need to understand that no text message is worth the risk of a crash.
Texting and driving is a dangerous behavior that leads to an unfortunate number of accidents and major injuries each year. The statistics show the severe impact of distracted driving on all age groups, especially teenagers.
