Distracted driving is the biggest danger on the road, and there are a lot of things that could be distracting us behind the wheel. According to a new report by Erie Insurance, more than 172,000 people were killed in car crashes in the past five years, with 10% of those crashes blamed on distracted drivers.
So, what is preventing us from focusing all our attention on the road? Well, the report finds that “day dreaming” is the biggest reason folks involved in fatal accidents were distracted behind the wheel, with 61% of drivers saying they were guilty of getting lost in thought while driving. Coming in second is cellphone use, whether it’s talking, listening, dialing or texting, something 14% of drivers involved in fatal accidents say they were guilty of.
Other distractions include:
- Outside person, object or event (like rubbernecking) - 6%
- Other occupants (talking with or looking at other people in car) - 5%
- Using or reaching for device brought into vehicle (such as navigational device, headphones) - 2%
- Adjusting audio or climate controls - 1%
- Eating or drinking - 1%
- Using other device/controls integral to vehicle, (adjusting rear view mirrors, seats, or using OEM navigation system) - 1%
- Moving object in vehicle, such as pet or insect - <1%
- Smoking related (includes smoking, lighting up, putting ashes in ashtray) - <1%
Source: Erie Insurance