We are officially in the middle of Distracted Driving Awareness Month—a month that began back in 2010 when Congress passed a resolution to create a special month devoted to increasing awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Have we made any progress? Let’s look at some of the data since we all would like to talk about the significance of the numbers. And after we dive into the numbers, we will explore how technology and other methods can step up to help save some lives.
The numbers paint a dire picture of the state of distracted driving in 2022. That year there were 3,308 people killed in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. That same year an estimated additional 289,310 people were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. That same year there were 621 nonoccupants killed in distraction-affected traffic crashes. These were pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who were not even in a vehicle. This is far too many lives.
Now that we have a better picture of the current state of distracted driving, let’s address some of the strategies to mitigate this driving-distraction pandemic. This is something that was presented in the recent report titled A Road Map for Safer Roads from the GHSA (Governors Highway Safety Assn.) and CMT (Cambridge Mobile Telematics).
This report breaks down some of the pivotal strategies that are part of a comprehensive approach outlined in the new report. Let’s look at each and consider the implications.
First, the implementation of effective state laws. CMT found 34% of crashes involved a driver who was using their phone a minute before the crash. It also found states that enacted hands-free laws between 2018 and 2024 saw a decline in accidents—including Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, and Missouri. During the first three months following the enactment of these laws, distraction declined an average of 6.6%. This particular analysis measures millions of trips involving millions of drivers in each state.
Looking specifically at one state, we see on April 4, 2023, Ohio took a significant step towards enhancing road safety with the enactment of a hands-free law. CMT has closely monitored the impact of this legislation, observing a notable 8.1% decrease in driver distraction since enforcement began.
Second, the initiation of public education campaigns. Public education has resulted in improved behaviors in other areas. Consider the example of increased seal belt use and a reduction in alcohol-impaired driving. Both of those saw improved behavior following greater public education campaigns.
Third, enforcement practices. In 2022, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Admin.) researchers looked at 80 studies that explored the relationship between high visibility enforcement efforts and safety outcomes. The research narrowed in on distracted driving and other dangerous driving behaviors. Here is what it found. The results indicated high visibility enforcement efforts reduced drivers’ handheld cellphone use by an average of 1.7 percentage points.
Finally, the use of safe driving technology. While technology has created risks, it also offers solutions. Technology can be used to encourage and incentivize safe driving both in our personal and professional lives. It can also analyze how drivers are doing and provide encouragement with the goal of reducing distracted driving.
A combination of high visibility enforcement of the law and public information, education, and outreach campaigns can make a big difference—but so can technology. As I see it, to keep the roads safe, it all goes back to understanding the basics and recognizing what is meant by visual (taking your eyes off the road); manual (taking your hands off the wheel); and cognitive awareness (taking your mind off driving). We must consider a combination of all these strategies if we want to ultimately save lives. What steps will you take in your personal life and in your business?
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