Distracted Driving Statistics - Crash Data for Texting & Cellphone Usage
Distracted driving caused 3,522 deaths and injured 362,415 people in 2021, which is the most recent data available.
Cellphone use, including texting while driving, caused 410 deaths that year.
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How many people die each year because of distracted driving?
About 3,000 people die each year because of distracted driving.
On average, about 8% to 9% of driving fatalities are because of distracted driving. This rate has stayed fairly consistent over the past five years from which data is available.
Distracted-driving fatality statistics by year
Year | Distracted-driving deaths | Percentage of all driving fatalities |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,522 | 8% |
| 2020 | 3,154 | 8% |
| 2019 | 3,119 | 9% |
| 2018 | 2,858 | 8% |
| 2017 | 3,242 | 9% |
Types of distracted driving
Distracted driving occurs when your focus is not on the road. This can be texting and driving, eating or reaching for something on the floor of your car. There are three main types of distractions:
- Taking your hands off the wheel, such as if you're eating, changing the music or reaching for something.
- Taking your eyes off the road, such as reading a text message or looking at something else.
- Taking your mind off driving, such as if you're having a conversation or daydreaming.
What are the main causes of distracted driving?
Cellphone use is a factor in 12% of distracted-driving-related deaths.
In 2021, there were about 410 deaths as a result of drivers who were texting, talking on the phone or using their phone in another way.
However, drivers can also be distracted by things outside their cars and by other passengers in the car.
Reasons why a driver was distracted when they caused a fatal crash
Driving distraction |
% of crashes
|
|---|---|
| Distracted by something outside the car (person, object, event) | 8% |
| Distracted by another occupant of the car | 4% |
| Texting, scrolling or other phone manipulation | 4% |
| Other phone use | 4% |
| Distracted by an object inside the car | 4% |
Drivers who are distracted by multiple things are counted in each category. The cause of the distraction is not always known or recorded in the accident report.
Phone use by distracted drivers
Distracted driving statistics show that cellphone use, including texting while driving, is more of a problem for younger drivers than middle-aged or senior drivers.
Among drivers aged 20 and younger, 17% of distracted-driving fatalities are caused by using a phone. However, phone use is much less of a problem for drivers aged 45 and older.
Age of distracted drivers using a phone during a fatal crash
Age |
% of crashes
|
|---|---|
| 15-20 | 17% |
| 21-24 | 16% |
| 25-34 | 14% |
| 35-44 | 13% |
| 45-54 | 8% |
What's the economic impact of distracted driving?
Distracted driving costs about $98 billion per year after considering both the damages it causes and the indirect costs like missing work or having to hire a lawyer after an accident. That's similar to the amount of damage that a major hurricane causes. Costs include:
- Medical care
- Property damage
- Legal costs
- First responders
- Insurance claim processing
- Missed work
- Lost time because of traffic
Car Insurance costs more if you crash because you weren't focused on the road.
If you cause an accident because you were distracted, your car insurance rates will go up by about 49%.
That means you'll pay an extra $864 per year for full coverage, on average. Rates usually stay high for about three years, which could add up to an extra cost of $2,592 if you cause a crash. That's in addition to any traffic tickets you get for the accident.
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Distracted-driving laws by state
States have issued distracted-driving laws to limit how phones can be used while driving. Handheld phone use is prohibited in about half of the states. Texting while driving is prohibited in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Montana is the only state where it isn't prohibited.
These distracted-driving laws apply to all drivers in the state. So if you're taking a road trip, you'll have to follow the laws of the state you're in, not the state where your license is issued.
Frequently asked questions
How many people are killed by distracted drivers?
In 2021, distracted drivers injured 362,415 people and caused 3,522 deaths. Although distracted driving is a problem across all age groups, young drivers are much more likely to be distracted by their phones.
What age group is most likely to text and drive?
Young drivers are much more likely to text and drive than older drivers. Among teenagers, 17% of distracted-driving fatalities are because of cellphone use. This rate drops to 13% for someone age 35 and 8% for someone age 65.
How bad is it really to text and drive?
If you take your eyes off the road for just five seconds to look at your phone at 55 mph, it would be the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Phone use while driving caused 410 fatalities in 2021.
Methodology
Distracted-driving statistics were compiled from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the Summary of Statistical Findings. State laws are sourced from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
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