News

Cell Phone Users - Distracted Driving Still a Problem

Back in 2016, USA Today reported more than 112 million cell phone users in the US and 85% being used while driving, by 2018 the estimate was nearly double that at 224 million users. Today that number is more than 260.2m.

The recent data from the National Highway Safety Transportation administration shows 3,166 fatalities were the result of distracted driving (in 2017). Among the most distracted were drivers 20-29 years in age where 19% of fatalities occurred with distracted a driver, nearly 40% of those drivers were using cell phones.

As of 2018, 48 states, D.C., ban messaging for all drivers. All but 3 have primary enforcement, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

In recent years Arizona has gone from only restricting school bus drivers from using cell phones when driving a school bus, to banning usage without a hands free device in most Arizona cities and municipalities. Text messaging is banned while operating a vehicle in Arizona (unless they're communicating with emergency personnel).

Sources:
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812700
https://www.ghsa.org/index.php/state-laws/issues/distracteddriving
http://www.dmv.org/az-arizona/safety-laws.php