It only takes a moment of distracted driving to cause a tragic crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that sending or reading a text at 55 miles per hour is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. About nine people die in crashes involving distracted drivers every day in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With 3,522 deaths associated with distracted driving in 2021, federal and state leaders are more proactive than ever to convince us to put our phones down and focus on the road. Only two states, Missouri and Montana, have a text messaging ban, and 30 states ban hand-held devices.
Distracted driving can also significantly impact your car insurance rates. Your provider will likely consider you a riskier driver if you have a citation. It’s good to understand the high toll of distracted driving and how to stay safe on the road.