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Phones Down. Survey Uncovers Rampant Cell Phone Use
While Driving

Study conducted for Distracted Driving Awareness Month finds this dangerous behavior is particularly widespread among those whose jobs include driving responsibilities 


To highlight the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving, Selective Insurance and the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety recently partnered on a study, conducted online by The Harris Poll, to understand the prevalence of cell phone related distracted driving.  Distracted driving caused by mobile phone use can increase the potential to be involved in an accident. 

Personal vs. Professional

Mobile phone related distracted driving is rampant. Most drivers have used their phones, for things such as to take personal calls or answer texts, while driving in the past 90 days. And, Americans who drive for work purposes tend to be more distracted by their phone when behind the wheel.

70% of licensed drivers have used a mobile device while driving for personal reasons in the past 90 days, while 86% of licensed drivers surveyed reported that they used a mobile device while driving for work in the past 90 days.

Linked to Distracted Driving

Nearly one in three Americans (31%) have either been in or know someone who has been in a crash that occurred while a driver was using a mobile device.

More than half of Americans have witnessed someone driving while distracted by a mobile device recently, with 56% indicating they have seen a driver using a mobile device in the past two weeks.

It's in the Tech

More than half of Americans – 58% – think requiring standard, advanced vehicle safety technologies in new vehicles will help curb unsafe distracted driving behavior involving mobile device use or its impacts.

Hang Up or Pay Up

Nearly 3 in 5 Americans – 57%  believe increased penalties and traffic fines would effectively deter mobile device use while driving.

Policy Change to Prevent Distracted Driving

Half of Americans (50%) believe implementing comprehensive state laws that permit mobile devices to only be used for limited purposes while driving would effectively reduce distracted driving involving mobile device use or its impacts.

Read the Full Distracted Driving Report

Read the full report which includes findings that demonstrate a startlingly high rate of mobile device use while driving, one in three respondents linked to a distracted driving crash, and strong support for strategies to address distracted driving.

The number of people killed in crashes involving distracted driving exceeded 3,000 in the U.S. in 2020. More than 420,000 people were injured in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available. This survey reveals the deadly and dangerous decisions by drivers contributing to this horrific fatality and injury toll."

Cathy Chase 
President
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

What Can You Do to Help Reduce Distracted Driving In Your Business?

Your employees might be driving distracted – putting your business, themselves, and everyone on the road at risk. Selective's Risk Management team of risk mitigation experts can help you educate your team about the importance of safe driving with these expert tips.

  1. Require new drivers to complete a road test and observe their driving behaviors
  2. Develop and communicate your company’s safe driving policies to your drivers
  3. Direct employees to pull over in a safe area to make or return calls or texts

Three Ways You Can Practice Safer Driving

Help keep everyone on the road safe and set an example with these expert safe driving tips. 

  1. Check your GPS instructions on your phone before driving
  2. Eat and drink only when the vehicle is stopped or parked 
  3. Silence notifications on your phone while driving

On top of a surprisingly high number of employees who drive for work using a mobile device while driving for work, almost a third (29%) participated in a video call while driving. With more drivers back on the roads and the increasing popularity of virtual work and video calls, it's more important than ever that employees develop and enforce distracted driving policies to keep employees and the general public safe on the roads."

Brenda Hall
Executive Vice President, Commercial Lines 
Chief Operating Officer at Selective
Survey Method: This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Selective Insurance and Advocates for Auto and Highway Safety from March 3-7, 2022 among 2,073 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,848 are licensed drivers.  The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval.  For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.  For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Katelyn.Leondi@Selective.com