Texting while driving facts

Texting and driving is essentially the practice of reading, composing, and sending messages using a mobile device while operating a moving vehicle. Road safety institutes and analysts have continued to press on the importance of keeping all mobile devices away from reach while behind the wheels due to the safety risk they pose.

We’ll be discussing some vital texting and driving facts. We’ll also bring to your notice some relevant statistics to better understand one of the most significant distracted driving behavior plaguing human society. Lastly, we’ll review annual texting and driving demographics, the risks it exposes drivers to, the rate drivers text on the road, its impact on insurance rates, and the number of casualties recorded yearly.

24 Statistics On Driving And Texting

The figures indicating the dangers of texting and driving are downright gut-wrenching. At every passing moment, approximately 600,000 motorists are using or attempting to use their cell phones to send out text messages at every passing moment.

There’s no denying that smartphones help us stay connected, which is highly convenient. However, they can be a significant safety hazard when used incorrectly, for instance, while driving.

1. Over 422 casualties were recorded due to driving and texting accidents in 2019

While much attention has been drawn to the risks of checking emails or sending out texts while operating a vehicle, the situation is still very troubling. More than 387 fatal crashes caused by texting drivers were recorded in 2019, which most would agree is very frightening.

Data on mobile phone-related car crashes in the United States show that about 33,244 accidents were caused by texting drivers, slightly below the number of drinking-related fatalities.

2. Three teenagers die each day in texting and driving-related crashes

Statistics on teenager texting and driving motor vehicle crash incidents indicate that young adults are more likely than any age group to be involved in road accidents. The statistics aren’t at all different, even when the teen drivers involved are experienced.

3. The number of pedestrian deaths surged by an outstanding 21% from 2019 to 2020

The number of texting-related crashes involving pedestrians in 2020 turned out to be the highest in the last 45 years. This shows that the number of people texting and driving is increasing at an alarming rate.

A recent study on texting-related accidents shows that pedestrians operating their mobile phones while crossing the road face a huge risk of being hit by moving vehicles.

4. At least 390,000 injuries are recorded annually due to accidents caused by texting teen drivers

Some fatal accidents on record occur when drivers get enthralled with their phones. While there are different forms of distracted driving under manual, cognitive, and visual distractions, none is as deadly as texting. Accidents involving cellphone use account for a minimum of 100,000 lives and 390,000 injuries per annum.

The devastation caused by distracted driving incidents is a well-known fact. Thankfully, many states are taking the appropriate steps to combat this prevalent and hazardous problem.

5. According to safe driving stats, a teen texting while driving has the same reaction time as a 75-year-old

Surprising, this information was tested and confirmed by the University of Utah. As expected, elderly drivers are rarely ever apprehended for texting or operating electronic devices while driving.

Furthermore, data from texting and driving statistics show that the shortest amount of time required for a driver to compose a short text is five to seven seconds, essentially the same amount of time it takes to drive across a soccer field.

6. Thirty-Nine (39%) of high-schoolers and teen drivers admit to texting while driving

According to safe driving reports, 39% of high schoolers and teen drivers admitted to texting 3% of their driving time. Data on student age also determined that older students were the most likely to send emails and texts while driving.

In addition, the National Safety Council discovered that students who have no issue texting and driving also break other distracted driving laws and engage in other harmful behaviors like driving under the influence of alcohol which can lead to a severe car crash.

7. According to a 2020 survey, 43% of millennial parents text while behind the wheels

People within this age category are often guilty of reading and composing text messages while behind the wheels. As a matter of fact, the most recent survey showed that 26.7% of millennial parents text and drive.

Although it was discovered that parents fond of texting while driving rarely ever practice this lousy driving behavior when they have children riding with them.

8. 53% of the respondents in a survey carried out in early 2022 claim to have texted while driving in the same month

Data from a survey carried out in 2021 showed that four in ten respondents send texts and read emails while driving. In addition, it was also discovered that all respondents who admitted to this bad driving behavior also knew the risks involved.

h3(#data-from-a-2021-survey-showed-that-16.2-of-drivers-text-while-driving). 9. Data from a 2021 survey showed that 16.2% of drivers text while driving

This data indicates a 2.2% drop in comparison to the 2020 reports. Furthermore, about 30% of the respondents in the 2020 survey were aware of their respective state laws concerning driving and texting. The numbers increased by 1% in 2021. Unfortunately, about 60% of the respondents didn’t see anything wrong with operating a mobile device while driving.

10. Driving with a mobile device means 300% of your time on the road will be spent operating it

Compared to all other phone-related distracted driving stats, texting behind the wheels bears the highest risk, which isn’t all that surprising since it’s practically impossible to compose a text message without taking your eyes off the road.

11. 90 percent of the respondents in a 2021 survey agreed that texting or operating an electronic device while driving is extremely dangerous

An encouraging number of the 2021 driving survey respondents agreed that sending emails and text messages while driving is incredibly dangerous. Also, 22.5% believed receiving calls and checking social media posts on handheld devices while driving is just as deadly as driving drunk.

12. Kansas has the highest rate of texting and driving car accidents

While the state isn’t overly strict with its distracted driving laws, it discourages texting and driving with novice drivers who have yet to obtain their provisional licenses. According to the United States Department Of Transportation, any who violates this law can be apprehended by traffic officials since texting while operating a vehicle is considered a primary offense in the state.

13. Over a million road accidents occur each year due to texting drivers

The National Safety Council brought forward this data. According to reports, at least 3,000 deaths are recorded from the 1.6 million road crashes that happen each year, which shows that it’s much more dangerous to send text messages while driving than to talk on the phone.

14. According to the Governors’ Highway Safety Association, 8 percent of drivers in the United States text while driving each day

Pedestrians, cyclists, and other unsuspecting drivers are exposed to the risk of severe injury and death if they happen to be in contact with texting drivers. While there are countless worrying statistics concerning texting and general cell phone use while driving, it’s reassuring that 48 states have banned texting and using cell phones while driving.

15. A quarter of the driving population in the United Kingdom admit to texting while driving

As for global statistics on driving and texting incidents, it was recently discovered that the number of texting drivers in the UK had increased significantly.

Since the number of drivers using their phones to receive calls, send emails, and send texts in the United Kingdom is steadily increasing, so is the number of distracted driving accidents. A report revealed that more than 50% of texting and driving fatal accidents involve drivers within the age bracket of 17-24.

16. According to traffic safety facts, 75% of drivers support the ban on handheld devices while driving

While 17 percent of the study respondents in the 2022 driver behavior survey supported the ban on handheld devices while driving, 86% of the respondents believe there would be fewer road crashes if all the other states in the US imposed a ban on texting and driving. Many also believe that a great way to make drivers conform to driving regulations is by imposing hefty fines on violators.

Notwithstanding, 29% of the respondents admitted to sending emails and texts while driving, while 38% said they had read messages on their handheld devices while behind the wheels. Lastly, 43.1% admitted to making and receiving phone calls once or twice while driving within the last 30 days.

17. Driving and texting is three times more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol

A recent study has shed new light on the dangers of texting and driving. This study claims that composing a single text message will delay a driver’s response time by 35%, which is considerably higher than the reaction time delay of drinking alcohol which was estimated at 12%.

18. Data from a 2020 survey showed a decline in drunk driving incidents and a significant increase in driving and texting incidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association believes that people don’t feel inclined to report texting and driving incidents as much as other distracted driving behaviors, which is one of the reasons the practice has become so widespread.

Rather than jeopardizing your safety and that of other road users by replying to a text while driving, it’s best to make a quick stop or wait till you reach your destination.

19. Texting while driving is way deadlier than driving after drinking a six-pack

As absurd as it sounds, facts state that texting drivers are just as impaired, if not more, than those driving under alcohol. We are all aware of drunk drivers’ risk on the road due to their clouded judgment.

However, statistics show that texting drivers are an even greater risk to themselves and others because it’s very easy to get carried away while texting. Besides this, a lot can happen when their gaze is directed at their cell phones.

20. Texting while driving leads to 34% more injuries compared to drunk driving and other distracted driving behaviors

This is also a significant contributor to deaths yearly due to driving and texting accidents. About 35% of America’s population doesn’t drink alcohol. However, it’s not always easy to ignore distractions when driving, which means there are way more distracted drivers on the road than drunk drivers.

New Mexico has the highest number of distracted driver accidents, most of which are due to texting drivers. At the same time, North Dakota is known to have the highest crashes involving drunk drivers.

Distracted driving car accidents are rising not because people are unaware of the dangers of operating mobile devices while driving or because technology is distracting but because most people think they can get away with it if they’re careful enough.

21. Alaska has the most severe penalties for phone violations while driving

The states in the US that ban hand-held cell phone usage while driving have their penalties, but none are as strict as Alaska’s cellphone violation penalties.

First-time offenders found guilty of texting and driving are fined $500. On the other hand, if an accident occurs and leads to severe injury or death, the texting driver can be charged up to $250,000 and convicted of a felony.

Furthermore, as of date, driving and texting is illegal in 48 states in America, while it’s illegal in 23 states to use mobile phones and any other kind of telecommunications device while driving. Montana and Missouri are the only states that don’t have any laws on texting while driving.

22. Novice drivers aren’t allowed to operate their phones while driving in 38 states in America

This includes all six states with secondary enforcement as well as 32 others with primary enforcement. As discussed earlier, young drivers and novice drivers are at a greater risk of being involved in texting and driving Motor vehicle crashes. This shows the vital role parents and family members have to play and the fact that it’s not the sole responsibility of the government to create awareness of the issue.

What’s more, statistics reveal that night-time driving restrictions and the limit on teenage passengers in each vehicle tremendously help minimize fatal road crashes.

23. At least 600,000 drivers text at every given moment

When sending texts and emails, a driver’s attention mainly focuses on the hand-held cell phone they’re operating. This means they’re entirely unaware of 70% of the activities around them, including cyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers. In other words, picking up your phone to reply to a text, even if it’s a four-word response, can expose you and other road users to serious injury, and that’s in the best-case scenario.

24. Getting booked for texting and driving and any distracted driver incident will have an impact on your car insurance rate

Almost every car insurance company will spike up your rates if you ever get cited for driving and texting. Your best shot at avoiding this is if the incident happens when you’re in a different state and the state you reside in does not track out-of-state violations. Many variables are involved, so it’s best to stop texting and driving.

25. Forty-Eight (48) States, including Washington, prohibit driving and texting

In Missouri, the only category of people banned from texting and driving are those aged 21 and below and commercial drivers. In contrast, Arizona and Montana do not have any known legislation against cell phone usage while driving.

26. Anyone apprehended for driving and texting in Alaska can be charged a $10,000 fine and made to serve a 10-day prison sentence

The penalty for sending text messages and operating cell phones while driving in Alaska is unrivaled by any other state in the country. Whether an accident occurs or not, or it’s the offender’s first time breaking this rule, the offense is still deemed a misdemeanor by the state.

This simply means that the culprit might end up paying as high as ten thousand dollars and face up to ten days in prison, although this is primarily an attempt at reducing cell phone-related accidents.

You must avoid getting booked for a cellphone offense whenever you drive around Alaska unless you’re ready to pay the price. The penalty aside, you can save lives, yours included, by choosing not to text and drive.

27. The driving record for 2021 shows a steady increase in the number of motor vehicle crashes caused by texting while driving

Many institutions have theories on why crashes involving texting and driving are rising. A few such theories center on the increasing popularity of smartphones and the pressing need to stay connected at all times.

Many believe the cause of increased texting and driving-related motor vehicle crash deaths is a lack of traffic safety awareness and that the different state penalties for cellphone usage aren’t strict enough.

28. Twenty-Five (25%) of cell phone-related accidents were caused by people aged between 20 to 29

Those in this age demographic are believed to be the most likely candidates for car accidents involving cellphone use. In addition, they are also considered to be most likely involved in accidents resulting in fatalities. The fact that over 898 individuals of this age group are casualties each year due to texting and driving is very concerning.

29. Ninety-Five (95) drivers between the ages of 30 to 39 were responsible for fatal crashes due to texting and driving in 2016

Drivers of this age demographic are the second most likely candidates to be involved in fatal car crashes due to cell phone use and other forms of distracted driving. According to driving statistics, at least 586 lives are lost each year due to texting and driving accidents involving this age group which is slightly lower than the age demographic mentioned above.

30. Sixty-Nine (69) drivers aged 40 to 49 were responsible for fatal road accidents in 2016

Recent studies show that 400 individuals in this age category die yearly because of texting and driving-related car crashes. Statistical analysis of adult texting and driving incidents shows that this behavior is not at all limited to young adults and teenagers.

31. Forty-Eight (48) drivers within the age bracket of 50 to 59 were the cause of fatal crashes in the year 2016

According to official age demographics, about 415 individuals in the first age category are likely to be casualties in texting and driving car crash incidents. In contrast, 288 people in the second age demographic are thought to have a slightly higher chance of being casualties in distracted driving accidents.

32. 5 adults aged 70 and above were responsible for road accidents in 2016

According to data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, people in this age category are the very least likely to be involved in severe road accidents caused by distracted driving or cell phone usage.

33. Reports From a CDC study show that teenagers fond of texting and driving are likely not to wear seatbelts

While this information isn’t all that surprising, it’s nonetheless true. According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, this kind of behavior is not only self-destructive, and the consequences can be quite severe when left unchecked.

34. Federal Employees are strictly forbidden from texting and driving in the United States

Knowing how dangerous texting and driving is, former president Barrack Obama signed a bill banning federal employees from operating handheld devices while driving in 2009.

Conclusion

While this article is mostly intended for information purposes, we sincerely hope it will educate all concerned parties and serve as a deterrent to such hazardous practices.