Distracted driving rates have increased across the United States over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from Zendrive. 

Drawing from 185-billion miles of data, the technology company found one in every five crashes in 2020 can be directly attributed to a phone-related distraction, and that more than one-fourth of all drivers were using their cell phones within 60 seconds of impact.

Distracted driving increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

To analyze how the pandemic has affected driver habits, Zendrive analyzed data from three different time frames, pre-lockdown in January, post-lockdown in March, and during the most recent surge of the virus between October and November. 

Despite a drop in overall traffic throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the data revealed that 2020 saw:

• A 17% increase in phone usage by drivers

• A 63% increase in collisions per million miles

• Leading the list of U.S. cities with the highest phone usage behind the wheel were Jacksonville, FL, Chicago, IL, and San Antonio, TX

According to AAA, taking your eyes off the road for even two seconds doubles your risk of being involved in a crash. 

Smartphones are contributing to distracted driving

“Smartphones are one of the primary contributors to distracted driving, and we know that people are more attached to their phones than ever. Distracted driving is a needless crisis, and now as we navigate increased health risks in our day-to-day, we need to prioritize safety on the road,” said Jonathan Matus, Zendrive CEO and co-founder. “We hope that sharing this data demonstrates the urgency here, and sheds light on a key to keeping our communities safer. We urge drivers to put their phones away.”

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. 

Click here to sign the pledge.

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.