The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for shopping, traffic — and distracted driving. And while the COVID-19 pandemic will all but ensure that fewer Americans travel during the holidays, experts predict that those who do leave their homes for the holidays will opt for car travel versus flying or taking a train, meaning more travelers on the road.

Why does distracted driving increase during the holidays? 

Regardless of how many drivers are on the road, research shows that drivers are more likely to partake in distracted driving during the stretch of time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. 

Of all the winter holidays, Thanksgiving sees the largest increase in distracted driving. According to data collected by TrueMotion, active phone use while driving increased by nearly 50% on Thanksgiving compared to a typical weekday. 

Christmas saw the second-highest increase of distracted drivers with 33%, while New Year’s Eve was the lowest of the group, with a 26% bump.

“People travel to see loved ones during the holidays. As they’re driving, they want to provide updates on where they are,” said Matt Fiorentino, director of marketing at TrueMotionUnfortunately, sometimes they’ll send a text while they’re driving. This also happens when you’re stuck in traffic and want to let your loved ones know you’ll be delayed.”

Is shopping to blame? 

Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and End-Of-Year sales initiatives, there’s no shortage of shopping opportunities during the holiday seasons, and drivers might be eager to snatch up a sale from their phone while behind the wheel. 

A 2019 report released by Root Insurance reported that almost 2 in 5 Americans shop on their phone while driving, an increase of 4% from the previous year.  

The insurance carrier surveyed 1,750 drivers and found that more than a third (39%) of drivers had done some form of holiday shopping while driving. 

Winter weather is an added risk

Winter storms and poor driving conditions account for nearly half a million crashes and 2,000 deaths every year, according to research by AAA. 

The numbers show that driving in winter weather is almost always a risky activity, but doing so while distracted is a dangerous recipe for disaster.

If you do choose to drive this holiday season, try these tips to stay safe on the road:

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. 

Sign the pledge by clicking here or scanning the QR code below.

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.