How distracted driving affects you

• Statistics
• Common Hazards
• Beyond the Road

Statistics

A study released in April 2006 by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that distractions, including drowsy driving, are a contributing factor in 8 out of every 10 police-reported traffic crashes, or an estimated 4 million crashes per year.

A study in May 2001, by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, found the most common distractions were:

• Things outside the car (29.4%)
• Adjusting a CD or the radio (11.4%)
• Other occupants (10.9%)
• Moving objects in the car (4.3%)
• Other objects in the car (2.9%)
• Vehicle controls (2.8%)
• Eating, drinking (1.7%)
• Cellular phones (1.5%)
• Smoking (0.9%)
• Other distractions (25.6%)
• Unknown distractions (8.6%)