What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that removes focus from the road and increases the risk of an accident. This includes cell phone use, eating, talking to passengers, grooming, and adjusting dashboard settings. A moment of distraction can be dangerous. According to the NHTSA, taking your eyes off the road for 5 seconds at 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. Teens are especially at risk, as they are nearly 3 times more likely to die in car crashes per mile driven compared to drivers over 20, and 70% report using social media while driving. It is important to end distracted driving for the safety of all road users.

A Growing Problem

Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents involving vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Despite the declining rate of national motor vehicle deaths, incidents involving distracted drivers are on the rise, with 50% of pedestrian deaths and 30% of cyclist deaths. It is difficult for law enforcement to prove distracted driving, so the true extent of the problem may be underreported. Research on legislation and law enforcement efforts to address distracted driving has shown mixed results, suggesting that more needs to be done to change behaviors and attitudes. A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that manipulating a cell phone while driving increases the risk of a fatal crash by 66%.

Increased Focus on the Problem

AAA launched the 'Don't Drive Intoxicated' campaign in 2019 to compare the dangers of texting and driving to those of drinking and driving. Distracted driving has been identified as a major factor in the rise in traffic deaths, which increased by 12% to almost 38,000 in 2018. The Harvard T.H. Chan School's Center for Health Communication is developing a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of staying focused while driving. To address the issue, a combination of stricter laws, better enforcement, technological innovations, community mobilization, and public campaigns are needed. Hunter's Fund supports the efforts of other organizations that are working to address the problem of distracted driving.

And now there is hope! 

Hunter's Fund is working to change the distracted driving behavior of young people in memory of Hunter Watson, who died in a distracted driving crash in 2016. Previous efforts to change behavior and make drunk driving socially unacceptable have been successful. Studies have also shown that signing a written pledge can change behavior 47% more effectively than other incentives.

Research has shown that people are more likely to recycle waste and use seat belts after signing a written pledge than from any other incentive. This has been demonstrated in studies by more than 25 corporations and has been found to be more effective than cash awards, prizes, and even laws.

Student groups working with the Hunter's Fund are organizing pledge-signing campaigns on campuses to change driving behavior through the Hunter's Pledge.