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Distracted Driving Statistics: How Dangerous Are U.S. Roads?

author-photoWritten & Edited by Fran Majidi
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Fran Majidi

Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about i...

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Updated July 17, 2023

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Despite awareness campaigns on the dangers of distracted driving, the problem of people getting distracted by handheld devices like cell phones and tablets has only worsened. Fatal car crashes jumped dramatically during the pandemic, and the numbers are getting increasingly worse each year. Even commercials showing the devastation that can happen while texting or emailing haven’t worked as a deterrent. And it’s not just young people doing it; people of all ages and in every state are driving while distracted. Some states have it worse than others. See what else you need to know about distracted driving and the laws in your state. Also, see where your state and city rank for the most distracted drivers on the road.

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Alarming Statistics on Distracted Driving

  • Distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives in 2021. [6]
  • From 2020 to 2022, distracted driving increased by over 20% in the United States. [8]
  • From 2020 to 2022, there was a 23% surge in distracted driving. [8]
  • Every 10% increase in distracted driving kills over 420 people and costs the American economy $4 billion every year. [8]
  • distracted driving caused an additional 420,000 crashes, 1,000 fatalities, and $10 billion in damages to the US economy in 2022. [8]
  • Distracted driving caused an additional 420,000 crashes, 1,000 fatalities, and $10 billion in damages to the US economy in 2022. [8]
  • 34% of phone motion distraction happens above 50 mph, the highest rate in 3 years. [8]
  • In 2020 there were 3,142 people killed and an additional 324,652 people injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.[1]
  • Nine people each day die from distracted driving and 424,000 are injured.[1]
  • 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle.[1]
  • When a driver is writing a text message they are at 79% risk of having an accident. [9]
  • When a driver is reading a text message they are at 78.9% risk of having an accident. [9]
  • When a driver is selecting music while driving they are at 67.7% risk of having an accident. [9]
  • When a driver is talking on their mobile phone (handheld) they are at 79.1% risk of having an accident. [9]
  • When a driver is talking on their mobile phone (handsfree) they are at 61.6% risk of having an accident. [9]
  • In 2020, there were 587 pedestrians, pedal cyclists, and others killed in distraction-affected crashes.[1]
  • 8% of fatal crashes are caused by distracted driving.
  • 14% of injury crashes, and 13% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes were reported as distraction-affected crashes.[1]
  • Drivers aged 15-20 are the most distracted drivers and are involved in the most fatal crashes.[3]
  • 39% of high school students text or email while driving.[3]
  • Texting and emailing while driving are more common among older students than younger students (60% over the age of 18).[3]
  • Texting and emailing while driving are more common among White students (44%) than Black (30%) or Hispanic students (35%)[3]
  • There is no correlation between distracted driving and academic achievement.[3]
  • High school students who text and email were driving were more likely to drink and drive, ride with a driver who’d been drinking and not wear a seatbelt.[3]
  • 69-million drivers use their phones behind the wheel every day, far higher than the 660,000 daily distracted drivers reported by government data.[4]
  • Distracted driving contributes to 26% of all collisions.[4]
  • Overall, drivers use their phones for an average of 1-minute, 52-seconds of every hour behind the wheel. At 55 mph, this is like driving 1.2-miles blindfolded, or the length of 21 football fields.[4]
  • Distracted driving at night, from 9pm to midnight is especially dangerous because drivers use their phones for an average of 30 seconds longer.[4]
  • During January and November of 2020, there was a 63% increase in collisions per million miles.[6]
  • Texting or emailing while driving was as common among students whose grades were mostly As or Bs as among students with mostly Cs, Ds, or Fs. [8]
  • Students who texted or emailed while driving were also more likely to: not wear a seatbelt, drive after drinking, get into a car with a person who’s been drinking.[8]
  • A national study of 15-17 year old drivers showed that fatal crashes were 21% lower when zero passengers were allowed and 7% lower when one passenger was allowed, compared with two or more passengers. [8]

What Is Distracted Driving

Doing anything that takes your eyes off the road for more than one or two seconds while driving is considered distracted driving. Taking your eyes off the road for five seconds at 55 mph is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. You’re bound to hit someone, something or an animal. Whether your hands are busy or your mind is wandering, you’re also distracted. You could also be eating, texting, emailing, posting on Instagram or reaching into your bag or talking to someone in the passenger seat or back seat.

Here are the three different types of distractions:

  1. Eyes off the road
  2. Hands off the wheel
  3. Mind off driving

Here are examples of distracted driving:

  • Lost in thought
  • Texting, calling or emailing using a cellphone
  • Focusing on something other than the road
  • Passenger activity or talking
  • Reaching for an object inside the vehicle
  • Adjusting the radio or air temperature
  • Using a device other than a cell phone (i.e., a GPS, tablet, camera)
  • Pets, insects, or objects moving inside the vehicle
  • Smoking
  • Applying make-up or fixing hair

examples of distracted driving infographic

Ages of Distracted Drivers

Young people are alarmingly unafraid of the consequences of distracted driving and don’t seem to think it’s a real threat, despite statistics that show otherwise.

Here’s how different generations are misinformed about the dangers of distracted driving:

  • 39% of Gen Z and Millennials think it’s safe to be using the phone while driving
  • 35% of Gen X think it’s safe to be using the phone while driving
  • 20% of Boomers think it’s safe to be using the phone while driving[6]

It’s not only young people on their cell phones causing fatal crashes. People of all ages are guilty of driving while distracted, even moms in minivans. Here are the age breakdowns of who drives distracted the most:

Drivers by Age Group

Percentage Using Phone While Driving 2020

Percentage Using Phone While Driving 2021

16–24

4.3%

5.4%

25–69

2.8%

3.4%

70 and older

0.5%

0.4%

Gender of Distracted Drivers

Females are 1% more distracted than males when driving. Whether it’s putting on makeup, texting, fixing their hair, reaching into a handbag or tending to a baby in the backseat, distracted driving is more of a problem for women,

Gender

Distracted Driving With a Handheld Device 2020

Distracted Driving With a Handheld Device 2021

Males

2.5%

3.0%

Females

3.3%

4.0%

Cars Distracted Drives Drive

Sports cars fall into the category of passenger cars and so do sedans. More drivers of these types of cars drove distractedly, with vans and SUVs coming second and, perhaps surprisingly, pickup truck drivers came in last.

Type of Car

2020

2021

Passenger Cars

3.40%

4.40%

Vans and SUVs

2.70%

3.00%

Pickup Trucks

1.70%

2.50%

Parents Preventing Distracted Driving

6 things parents can do to combat distracted driving

There are 6 things parents can do to combat distracted driving:

  1. A Liberty Mutual Insurance survey showed that 69%t of parents practice distracting behaviors while driving. Before preaching to their teens and young adults about the dangers of texting or eating or fussing with something while driving, they should exhibit the type of behavior they expect of their child. Setting good examples is crucial to combatting this problem, and it requires parents to initiate the change.
  2. Talking to teens and young adults about distracted driving is essential. Parents can share some of the statistics found in this article.
  3. Parents can do a simulated drive, with the parent driving and the child texting for 5 seconds. The parent can scan for hazards and then share everything the child would’ve missed while they were on their phone, like a small child darting out of nowhere or a car suddenly braking.
  4. The Students Against Destructive Decisions group offers a safe driving contract that parents and their children can sign as an official agreement to stay off the phone while driving.
  5. Parents can share with and enforce their state's restrictions on cellphone use.
  6. PTAs can actively bar bus drivers guilty of distracted driving from working in their schools.

Distracted Driving Statistics by State

States With the Most Distracted Drivers in Order:

  1. Mississippi
  2. Rhode Island
  3. Louisiana
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Connecticut
  6. Texas
  7. Arkansas
  8. Massachusetts
  9. District of Columbia
  10. Kentucky
  11. Missouri
  12. Maryland
  13. Ohio
  14. Indiana
  15. Vermont
  16. California
  17. North Carolina
  1. Alabama
  2. Delaware
  3. Tennessee
  4. New Jersey
  5. West Virginia
  6. Illinois
  7. South Carolina
  8. Maine
  9. Virginia
  10. Wisconsin
  11. New Mexico
  12. Colorado
  13. Michigan
  14. Alaska
  15. Kansas
  16. Utah
  17. Georgia
  1. Pennsylvania
  2. Arizona
  3. New Hampshire
  4. Florida
  5. Nebraska
  6. Idaho
  7. Nevada
  8. Iowa
  9. New York
  10. South Dakota
  11. Minnesota
  12. Hawaii
  13. North Dakota
  14. Wyoming
  15. Washington
  16. Montana
  17. Oregon

Top 20 Cities With the Most Distracted Drivers:

  1. Houston, TX
  2. Miami, FL
  3. Detroit, MI
  4. San Jose, CA
  5. Los Angeles (County)
  6. Los Angeles – Long Beach – Anaheim, CA
  7. Boston – Cambridge – MA and Newton, NH
  8. San Francisco, CA (and 9 surrounding regions)
  9. Denver – Aurora, CO
  10. Philadelphia, PA
  1. Austin, TX
  2. Phoenix – Mesa – Scottsdale, AZ
  3. Atlanta, GA
  4. Washington, DC
  5. Burlington, VT
  6. Chicago, IL
  7. Pittsburgh, PA
  8. New York, NY
  9. Portland – Hillsboro, OR
  10. Vancouver, WA

States Banning Cellphones and Text Messaging Driving

States Banning the Use of Cellphones While Driving:

  1. Arizona
  2. California
  3. Connecticut
  4. Delaware
  5. Georgia
  6. Hawaii
  7. Idaho
  8. Illinois
  9. Indiana
  10. Maine
  11. Maryland
  12. Massachusetts
  13. Minnesota
  1. Nevada
  2. New Hampshire
  3. New Jersey
  4. New York
  5. Oregon
  6. Rhode Island
  7. Tennessee
  8. Vermont
  9. Virginia
  10. Washington
  11. West Virginia
  12. District of Columbia

States Banning Text Messaging While Driving:

  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arizona
  4. Arkansas
  5. California
  6. Colorado
  7. Connecticut
  8. Delaware
  9. Florida
  10. Georgia
  11. Hawaii
  12. Idaho
  13. Illinois
  14. Indiana
  15. Iowa
  16. Kansas
  17. Kentucky
  1. Louisiana
  2. Maine
  3. Maryland
  4. Massachusetts
  5. Michigan
  6. Minnesota
  7. Mississippi
  8. Nebraska
  9. Nevada
  10. New Hampshire
  11. New Jersey
  12. New Mexico
  13. New York
  14. North Carolina
  15. North Dakota
  16. Ohio
  1. Oklahoma
  2. Oregon
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. Rhode Island
  5. South Carolina
  6. South Dakota
  7. Tennessee
  8. Texas
  9. Utah
  10. Vermont
  11. Virginia
  12. Washington
  13. West Virginia
  14. Wisconsin
  15. Wyoming
  16. District of Columbia

Distracted Driving State Laws

State

Handheld Ban

Young Drivers All Cellphone Ban

Texting & Driving Ban

Penalties

AL

no

16-year-old drivers and 17-year-old drivers who have held an intermediate license for fewer than 6 months

All drivers

A first offense is $25, the second offense is $50, and each one after that is $75. You also get two points on your license for each offense.

AK

no

no

All drivers

Texting and driving is a class A misdemeanor criminal offense. You can spend up to a year in jail and up to $10,000 in fines for a first offense.

AZ

All drivers

Learner's permit holders and intermediate license holders during the first 6 months after licensing

All drivers

Texting while driving has fines between $75 and $149 for a first offense and between $150 and $250 for each reoccurrence.

AR

Drivers 18 or older but younger than 21.

School and highway work zones

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

There is a fine of $250 for a first offense and $500 for any offenses after that. Fines double if they involve a collision.

CA

Driving while holding and operating a phone or electronic communication device is prohibited. Drivers who are 18 and older may dictate, send or listen to text-based messages with a hands-free device.

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers unless it's with a hands-free device and they are 18 or older.

The first texting and driving citation in California costs at least $162 which includes fees (the base fee is $20 and $50 for the next),

CO

no

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

Texting and driving in Colorado is a misdemeanor traffic offense and is punishable by a $300 fine and four points on your driving record.

CT

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

Your first offense is $200, the second is $375, and each subsequent violation is $625.

DE

All drivers

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

You will be fined $100 for a first offense and following offenses will cost $200-$300.

DC

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

A fine up to $100 and one point on license for each conviction.

FL

Drivers in school and work zones

No

All drivers

You will be fined with a citation of $30 for your first texting and driving offense, $60 for a second offense and includes a court appearance and its associated costs and three points against your license.

GA

All drivers

The current law does not prohibit young drivers from using earpieces, headphone devices or devices worn on the wrist to conduct voice-based communication.

  

For a first offense, it’s a $50 fine and one demerit point. You can get this charge dismissed if you buy a hands-free device. A second offense is $100 and two demerit points, while the third fine is $150 and three demerit points.

HI

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

Fines for texting and driving start at $250.

ID

All drivers

no

All drivers

The $75 first-offense fee includes court costs and is $131.50. A second offense is $150 but a second offense within three years is $206.50, A $300 third offense within three years jumps to $356.50. Your license is suspended for up to 30 days if you have three offenses in three years.

IL

All drivers

Drivers younger than 19 who hold a learner’s permit or intermediate license

All drivers

There is a $75 fine for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, $125 for a third offense, and $150 for a fourth offense. Distracted driving is a moving violation with points. If you get three distracted driving citations in a one-year period, your license gets suspended.

IN

All drivers

Drivers younger than 21

All drivers

A first offense fee is $35.50. If you have a second violation in a five-year period, the fee is $250.50. Finally, if you receive a third violation in five years, the maximum fee is $500. Each texting and driving violation adds four demerit points to your license.

IA

no

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

Texting while driving is a misdemeanor in Iowa. The cost of this ticket is $100 plus court costs.

KS

no

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

A first offense will cost you $60 plus court costs. If you are on your learner's permit, your permit is suspended for 30 days and there is a $250 fine. Get a second violation, and your license is suspended for 90 days and you receive a $500 fine.

KY

no

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

There is a $25 for the first texting and driving violation and $50 for subsequent ones. The violation also puts three points on your license.

LA

Drivers in school zones and new drivers

Learner's permit holders and all intermediate license holders are prohibited from driving while using a hand-held cellphone. All drivers younger than 18 are prohibited from using a cellphone. All drivers issued a first driver’s license are prohibited from using a cellphone for one year. The cellphone ban is secondary for novice drivers ages 18 and older.

All drivers

First offense is $175 and $500 for each subsequent offense.

ME

All drivers

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

It costs $250 for the first offense. Repeat offenders will have their license suspended for a minimum of 30 days.

MD

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

There is a maximum of $83 fine for a first offense, $140 for the second, and $160 for the third.

MA

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

It is $100 for a first offense, $250 and a mandatory distracted driving course for a second, and $500, an insurance surcharge and a mandatory distracted driving course for the third.

MI

no

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders (level 1 and 2); integrated voice-operated systems excepted

All drivers

There is a $100 fine for a first offense and $200 for each one after that.

MN

All drivers

Learner's permit holders and provisional license holders during the first 12 months after licensing

All drivers

It costs $120 for a first offense and over $300 for subsequent offenses.

MS

no

no

All drivers

You will receive a $100 ticket.

MO

no

no

Drivers 21 and younger

Texting while driving rules only pertain to those who are under 21 years of age and commercial drivers. IT costs $85 fine plus court costs and two license points.

MT

no

no

no

No laws

NE

no

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders younger than 18

All drivers

$200 for a first offense, $300 for a second, and $500 for each one after that. Three points will be added to your license.

NV

All drivers

no

All drivers

A first offense is a $50 fine. If you get another one in the next seven years it is $100, and any more will cost you $250 each. Any offense after the first also results in four points on your license.

NH

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

$100 for the first offense, $250 the second time in two years, and $500 for the third offense in two years.

NJ

All drivers

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

A first offense starts at $200, the second is a minimum of $400, and the third is a minimum of $600 along with a possible 90-day license suspension and three points.

NM

no

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

There is a $25 fine for your first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense.

NY

All drivers

no

All drivers

$200 for your first offense, $50 to $250 for your second in 18 months, and $50 to $450 for your third in 18 months. There is a $93 surcharge and you will get five points on your license.

NC

no

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

$100 fine along with court costs.

ND

no

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

$100 fine along with court costs.

OH

no

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

If you commit a traffic violation while texting, you will receive a $150 fine. If you are under 18, you lose your license for 60 days and get a $150 fine. If it is your second offense, you lose your license for a year and receive a $300 fine.

OK

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders are banned from using a hand-held electronic device while operating a motor vehicle except in life-threatening emergencies

All drivers

$100 fine along with court costs.

OR

Drivers may not hold an electronic device in either hand or both hands while operating a motor vehicle on a public highway

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

Fines start at a $1,000 maximum fine. The second offense in 10 years is a $2,000 maximum fine. The fine for a third offense in 10 years is between $2,000 and $2,500 and up to six months in jail.

PA

no

no

All drivers

$50 plus court costs and other fees.

RI

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

You will face a maximum $100 fine along with court costs.

SC

no

no

All drivers

Up to a maximum $25 fine along with court costs.

SD

no

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

Texting while driving is a class 2 misdemeanor in South Dakota and carries a $122.50 fine.

TN

All drivers

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

The first offense is a maximum of $50. The following citations can be up to $100 each.

TX

Drivers in school crossing zones and on public school property during the time the reduced speed limit applies

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

You’ll face a fine between $25 and $99 for your first offense and between $100 and $200 for any following offenses.

UT

A person is not prohibited from using a handheld wireless device but drivers cannot dial a hand-held phone or face a maximum fine at $100 for a first offense

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

The first offense is a $100 maximum fine. Any following offenses have the potential for up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

VT

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18

All drivers

$100 to $200 for a first offense and between $250 and $500 for any subsequent offenses.

VA

All drivers

no

All drivers

$125 fine for a first offense and $250 for any subsequent offenses.

WA

All drivers

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

Fines start at a minimum of $136. Additional tickets in the next five years start at $234.

WV

All drivers

Drivers younger than 18 who hold either a learner's permit or an intermediate license

All drivers

$100 for a first offense, $200 for their second, and $300 plus two points on a license for a third.

WI

Drivers in highway construction areas

Learner's permit and intermediate license holders

All drivers

Fees range from $20 for a first offense up to $400 for repeat offenses.

WY

no

no

All drivers

Fines range between $75 and $90.

As you can see, many states add points to your license. Each point on a license raises rates and each point is weighed equally. Some states will tack on up to four points which would dramatically increase your insurance rates. Not only is texting and driving dangerous, but it’s also very expensive for every driver in that state![7]

Distracted Driving FAQs

How much do car insurance rates increase after a distracted driving citation?

It differs in each state, but there will be an increase. In California, for example, a first time offender’s rates will increase $162.

Is texting and driving a moving violation?

Yes, in some states texting while driving is a moving violation and will add at least one point to your license (varies by state).

Can you drive with earbuds or headphones?

In some states, driving with earbuds or headphones is considered distracted driving. However, you can have one pod in one ear. There is no prohibition on headsets in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Sources

  1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2021) Distracted Driving.
  2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2021). Traffic Safety Facts Research Note: Distracted Driving 2019 (DOT HS 813 111).
  3. Yellman, M.A., Bryan, L., Sauber-Schatz, E.K., Brener, N. (2020). Transportation Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019.
  4. 100 times worse than we thought: Insights from a Zendrive’s 2018 Distracted Driving Snapshot. Zendrive.
  5. Crash Stats NHTSA. Accessed March 14, 2021.
  6. How to prevent distracted driving in 2022: A comprehensive guide. Zendrive.
  7. A State-by-State Guide to Texting and Driving Fines. Driversed.com.
  8. 2022 US Distracted Driving Report. Cambridge Mobile Telematics. 
  9. The effect of text messaging on driver behaviour. Transport Research Laboratory. 
About the Author
Fran Majidi
Fran Majidi
Auto Insurance Expert

Fran Majidi manages content on SmartFinancial's website. She's had nearly a decade's worth of experience writing about insurance-related topics. Prior, she was an arts and entertainment editor in New York City. She has a B.A. from Barnard College and an M.F.A. in writing from The New School. She writes books under her given name, Afarin Majidi.

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