Distracted Driving Research

• ​Teens and Young Drivers

  
  

  • Young Drivers Report Highest Level of Phone Involvement in Crash or Near-Crash Incidences
    A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey found 20% of drivers age 18-20 said texting does not affect their driving, and nearly 30% of drivers ages 21-34 said texting has no impact.
  • Distracted Driving Among Newly Licensed Teen Drivers
    AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety placed data recorders in the vehicles of young drivers to capture video, audio, sudden braking, abrupt turns and other information. If you have a teen driver, you'll at least want to read the executive summary of this eye-opening study.
  • Sample videos showing distraction and teen crashes
    Check out this AAA Foundation video posted in March 2015.
  • Teens and Distracted Driving: Texting, talking and other uses of the cell phone behind the wheel
    Madden & Lenhart (2009) Pew Internet & American Life Project

  
  

  Hands-free Devices

  
  

  • Understanding the Distracted Brain: This NSC white paper examines why driving while using hands-free devices is risky
  • AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Research shows that voice-activated in-car technologies dangerously undermine driver attention
  • Voice-to-text offers no safety advantage over manual texting, says a study conducted by Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  
  Cell Phone use Compared to Alcohol-impaired Driving

  
  

  • Fatal Distraction? A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver
    Strayer, Drews, Crouch (2006)

  
  

  Cell Phone use is Under-reported

  
  

  • Driver cell phone use is under-reported by authorities. This NSC white paper examines the challenges of collecting and reporting reliable crash data

  
  Be sure to check out the U.S. government website for distracted driving. It contains up-to-date research reports, statistics and video testimonials, as well as resources for teens, parents, teachers, employers and community groups.