During the pandemic, distracted driving increased, and it hasn’t gone down since.
Until relatively recently, good data on the problem of distracted driving has been hard to find. The government estimates that 3,522 people died because of it in 2021, but experts say the official number probably majorly undercounts the number of deaths, in part because police are rarely able to definitively prove that a driver was distracted right before a crash.
In the last few years, though, the data on distracted driving has gotten better. Cambridge Mobile Telematics is a company that partners with major insurance companies to offer downloadable apps that drivers can use to save money on their rates. Via the apps, Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) uses mobile phone sensors to measure driving behavior, including whether a person is speeding, holding their phone, or interacting with an unlocked screen while driving (the company says it doesn’t collect information on what the drivers are doing on their phones). Its work gives the company insight into the driving behaviors of more than 10 million people.
CMT recently analyzed driver behavior during millions of car trips. What it found should be troubling to anyone who uses a road in the US: During the pandemic, American drivers got even more distracted by their phones while driving. The amount of distracted driving hasn’t receded, even as life has mostly stabilized.
I wonder what the stats are based on age. Is it mostly old and young people or is it a issue among all ages?
It’s all demographics. I ride a motorcycle and I can spot who is playing on their phone from way off; the slight swerving, randomly and unnecessary tapping the brakes to maintain speed, unable to regulate follow distance, in stop & go traffic, traffic starts and they don’t. When I pass and look in at them they often still don’t see me.
I see all of you.
Nothing drives me crazier than regulating your speed by hitting the brakes! Like, have you considered just…taking your foot off the gas? I promise, you’ll start to slow down!
Annecdotally, I drive a work van that all day that sits high so I can see most people in their cars. I’ve noticed nearly every age group texting while driving except for seniors.
Pretty much everyone. I have seen it across all age groups.
Insert ADHD side content:
When I got a new vehicle a couple years ago, “functioning” Bluetooth and decent built in mic/speakers were a must. I also wanted a dash and screen that wasn’t distracting. I don’t understand how people can drive Toyota with how busy the dash is. I rented a bunch at the time and every single one was a miserable experience. At least on the infotainment center I can just use Android Auto. Also. Buttons. The only stupid thing I don’t have a physical button for is the damn heated seats. At least it lets me put custom shortcuts at the top of the screen so I don’t have to go digging around. It automatically turns them on when it is cold anyways, so I usually don’t have to mess with it.