Distracted Driving Awareness Month: By The Numbers

If there’s a time to commit to being a safer driver, that time is now. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, an opportunity to educate yourself on safe driving practices and pledge to avoid texting, talking on the phone, eating, and taking your eyes off the road while behind the wheel.  

Distracted drivers in the United States cause thousands of needless deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year. 

Here are some statistics to consider before you drive distracted.

5 seconds

That’s the amount of time it takes to read a text message, according to the United States Department of Transportation. And if you’re driving 55 mph, that means you’ll cover the length of a football field before looking up from your phone — leaving you totally unaware of upcoming traffic jams, pedestrians, or objects on the road.

72 percent 

Almost 3 in 4 teenagers feel a “pressing need” to respond to text messages, social media notifications, and other app notifications right away. Cell phone addiction is fueling distracted driving, and surveys show that almost half of all people use their phones while driving despite knowing that it’s dangerous. 

49 times 

That’s the average number of times that “cellphone addicts” pick up their phones per every 100 miles driven, compared to 11 times for non-addicted drivers. Teenagers are the most likely demographic to be addicted to their cellphones and use their phones while driving to read and respond to tests, update social media, check directions, and change the music. 

57 percent

That’s the percent of crashes in 2020 that directly involved cell phone use, according to a survey by Zendrive. There’s no downplaying the fact that using your phone behind the wheel is extremely risky — perhaps even riskier than speeding, which accounted for 17 percent of crashes.

506 people

That’s the number of non-occupants — meaning pedestrians, cyclists, and others —killed by distracted drivers in 2018. Practicing safe driving doesn’t just protect your life, it protects the lives and safety of those around you. 

47 percent

That’s the percent of people who permanently change their driving behaviors after signing Hunter’s Pledge to End Distracted Driving. 

Sign Hunter’s Pledge to End Distracted Driving

Hunter’s Pledge was designed to encourage drivers to commit to safe driving habits. Since 2016, tens of thousands of drivers have signed the pledge and permanently changed their driving behaviors. Studies show that signing a pledge can dramatically and permanently change behaviors. In fact, 55 percent of people who sign Hunter’s Pledge have changed their driving behavior. 

Hunter’s Fund

Hunter’s Fund honors the life of Hunter Watson, a young man of extremely diverse talents who was killed at 20-years-old when he was fatally injured as a passenger in a distracted driving collision.

Through distracted driving education and awarding grants to help young people’s involvement in performing arts, music, computer science, and entrepreneurship, Hunter’s Fund empowers young people in their careers and keeps Hunter’s spirit alive.

Does your fraternity or organization want to get involved with Hunter’s Pledge?Click here for more information, or contact Natalie Kwon natalie@hunterwatson.org.