The Scary Statistics Behind Distracted Driving

According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 10 percent of all fatal crashes are the result of distracted driving – at a cost of $129 billion annually. And, these incidents increase dramatically around Halloween. In fact, according to Safe Kids USA, twice as many child pedestrians are likely to be killed on Halloween compared to other days of the year.

That’s why, now more than ever, it’s important to focus on these five scary statistics about distracted driving:

1. The most distracted drivers are 36% more likely to be involved in a near collision.
   Near collisions are a strong indicator of risk and distracted driving is a key contributor to this risk.  

2. The most distracted drivers are 87% more likely to drive 10 mph or more over the speed limit.
   The most distracted drivers are also aggressive speeders.

3. The most distracted drivers are 83% more likely to roll through a stop sign or red light, and are 2.1 times more likely to run a stop sign or red light.
   The most distracted drivers do not stop at stop lights or stop signs at a rate significantly  higher than other drivers.

4. The most distracted drivers drift out of lane 91% more than all other drivers.
   Distracted driving measurably affects a driver’s ability to stay in his/her lane. 

5. The most distracted drivers are 4.1 times more likely not to wear a seatbelt.
   The most distracted drivers are highly unlikely to wear a seatbelt.  

There are three widely accepted categories of distracted driving:

• Visual—Taking eyes off the road (e.g. looking down, looking away from the road)
• Manual—Taking hands off the wheel (e.g. holding food or a cell phone, reaching for something)
• Cognitive—Taking mind off the road

Every fleet has distracted drivers. But, knowing distracted driving is happening doesn’t stop it, nor does it make your drivers safer. You need to take action. The combination of insightful video, an intuitive online dashboard and proven coaching workflow enables you to intervene in a timely manner with driving skill improvement strategies that make a difference. By seeing video and coaching your drivers on techniques to eliminate bad habits, you immediately see results and improve your fleet’s performance.

The stats mentioned in this blog are from the SmartDrive SmartIQ® Beat. Click here to see additional stats. Learn more about protecting your fleet by reducing distracted driving with SmartDrive™ for Distracted Driving. With millions of children (and adults) trick or treating tonight, caution your drivers to drive extra safely tonight and be extra cautious about distracted driving.

• Posted by Matt Brunelle
• On 30 October 2017