Nearly 30% of all drivers involved in collisions since COVID-19 took hold in early 2020 were using their cell phones within 60 seconds of crashing their vehicles, according to a new study.
The study, conducted by mobility analysis firm Zendrive, found that one in every five crashes in 2020 can be attributed directly to a phone-related distraction and that the problem got worse as the year wore on and more cars returned to the road.
Comparing November 2020 to January 2020, the study also found that:
- Phone usage by drivers has increased 17%
- 16.8% of drivers were using their cell phones in the five seconds immediately prior to impact
- Collisions per million vehicle miles has risen 63%
- Rapid accelerations are up 36%
According to AAA, phone distraction alone can increase the risk of a vehicle collision by as much as 83%. Moreover, drivers who take their eyes off the road for as little as two seconds double the risk that they will be involved in a crash.
With pedestrian fatalities at their highest levels in decades, these findings highlight a significant danger to public health. All one needs to do is to observe a group of people for a few seconds to recognize that people are more attracted and more attached to their phones than ever before.
Distracted driving, of course, predates the pandemic, but the recent upheaval in travel patterns underscores a long-standing problem. Now, with the nation – and indeed the entire world – facing health risks in our day-to-day lives thanks to the pandemic, distracted driving is a needless crisis that can be easily avoided.
With that in mind, we at The Traffic Group urge drivers to put their smartphones away. We need to prioritize safety whenever we are on the road. Doing so will save lives and keep our communities safer.