NHTSA Survey Reveals Surprising Data About Distracted Driving

The results of a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that distracted driving is still a frequent occurrence on U.S. roadways.

The telephone survey involved approximately 6,000 adult drivers nationwide. Respondents were asked how likely they were engage in distracted driving based on specific scenarios. Overall, the results seem to indicate that for many drivers, the accident risk associated with distracted driving may not be enough to prevent them from engaging in this potentially deadly behavior.

Key Findings of the Survey:

• 28.6% of all drivers said they regularly engaged in conversation with passengers on all trips
• 23% reported always answering phone calls while driving and 27% said they answered the phone while driving most of the time
• 66% of respondents reported that they continued to drive after answering a call
• 29.4% of drivers said that who was calling was the most important factor in determining whether to take a call while driving
• 53.7% of respondents said they would not use the phone while driving in bad weather
• 54% of drivers said that talking on the phone did not affect the quality of their driving
• Just 25% said the same about texting while driving
• Approximately 1/3 of drivers aged 18 to 24 said it was safe to take their eyes off the road for up to 10 seconds at a time
• 88% of drivers said they would not feel safe if they were riding as a passenger in a car while the driver was texting
• 76% of drivers said they would say something to another driver who was texting while driving
• 18% of drivers admitted to sending a text while driving
• 66% of those respondents said they would continue to drive while sending or receiving text messages

The drivers responses seem to illustrate several interesting conclusions. First, drivers seem to consider talking while driving less of a distraction than texting while driving. The majority of drivers surveyed also seemed to believe that talking on the phone while driving did not represent a threat to their driving ability. A significant percentage of drivers who said they would send a text while driving would continue to answer texts without pulling over but conversely, the majority of drivers said they would not feel comfortable riding in a car with a driver who was texting.These contradictory results seem to indicate that drivers may believe they are less susceptible to distraction than other motorists, which could potentially lead to more car accidents.

If you or a loved one was the victim of a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be eligible to file an injury claim for compensation. Contacting an experienced car accident attorney can help you to protect your rights.

Nadrich & Cohen, LLP specializes in representing car accident victims and their families. We have offices in cities throughout California, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Fresno. For more information on filing a car accident injury claim, call 1-800-718-4658.