3,142

people were killed in motor 

vehicle crashes involving 

distracted drivers in 2019.1

IN THE UNITED STATES

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted driving is doing another activity that 

takes the driver’s attention away from driving. 

Driving distractions include using cell phones, 

eating, talking to other passengers, and adjusting 

radio or climate controls.

The 3 Main Types of Distracted Driving

Taking your 

eyes off 

the road

Taking your 

hands off 

the wheel

Taking your 

mind off 

driving 

Number of Distracted Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes

By Age Group, 2019

800

600

400

200

0

 15-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2019.

344 297

686

531

392

315

208 184

Get the Facts 

Many states have taken steps to help prevent distracted 

driving. Examples include: 

• banning texting while driving

• banning hand-held cell phone use while driving

• requiring passenger limits for young drivers

• using high-visibility enforcement of these laws

However, research on the effectiveness of cell phone 

and texting laws is mixed. 

Working together, we can help keep people safe on the road—every day.
High-Visibility Enforcement: Cell Phone Use and Texting

High-visibility enforcement (HVE) efforts aim to prevent cell phone use

while driving by increasing the perceived risk of getting a ticket. HVE 

combines increased enforcement, such as saturation patrols (increased 

number of officers patrolling a specific area), with paid and earned media.

Promising Strategies to Help Address Distracted Driving

Impact

HVE can reduce cell phone use while driving. 

Pilot HVE programs in Syracuse, New York, 

and Hartford, Connecticut, used increased 

enforcement efforts with paid media, press 

events, and news releases over a one-year 

period. Syracuse saw a 32% decrease in 

hand-held cell phone use among drivers, 

while Hartford saw a 57% decrease.2

By the 

Numbers

As of 2020 

the use of HVE 

is limited to a 

few states.3

Learn More

The Insurance Institute for 

Highway Safety keeps track 

of distracted driving laws. 

You can learn more here: 

www.iihs.org/topics/distracted-driving

Graduated Driver Licensing: Young Passenger Restriction

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) is a system that helps new drivers gain experience under low-risk conditions 

by granting driving privileges in stages. Comprehensive GDL systems include five components,4

 one of which 

addresses distracted driving: young passenger restriction.

Impact

Limiting the number of young passengers can help 

reduce distracted driving among teen drivers.3 

A national study of 15-17 year old drivers showed 

that fatal crashes were 21% lower when zero 

passengers were allowed and 7% lower when one 

passenger was allowed, compared with policies that 

allowed two or more passengers.5

By the 

Numbers

For drivers with intermediate or 

provisional licenses:

 • 16 states and Washington, D.C., have 

a limit of zero young passengers 

without adult supervision.6

 • 29 states have a limit of one young 

passenger without adult supervision.6

REFERENCES

1. National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2021, April). Distracted Driving 2019. (Report No. DOT HS 813 111). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.

gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813111.

2. Chaudhary, N. K., Casanova-Powell, T. D., Cosgrove, L., Reagan, I., & Williams, A. (2012, August). Evaluation of NHTSA distracted driving demonstration projects in Connecticut and New York. (Report No. DOT HS 811 635). 

Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811635.pdf.

3. Venkatraman, V., Richard, C.M., Magee, K., & Johnson, K. (2021, July). Countermeasures that work: A highway safety countermeasures guide for State Highway Safety Offices, 10th edition (Report No. HS 813 097). Washington, 

DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2021-09/15100_Countermeasures10th_080621_v5_tag.pdf. 

4. Masten, S.V., Thomas, F.D., Korbelak, K.T., Peck, R.C., Blomberg, R.D. (2015, November). Meta-Analysis of Graduated Driver Licensing Laws. (Report No. DOT HS 812 211). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration. Retrieved from https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/812211-metaanalysisgdllaws.pdf. 

5. McCartt, A.T., Teoh, E.R., Fields, M., Braitman, K.A., & Hellinga, L.A. Graduated licensing laws and fatal crashes of teenage drivers: a national study. Traffic Injury Prevention. 2010;3:240-248. 

 Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/15389580903578854.

6. IIHS. (2022, February). Graduated licensing laws by state. Retrieved from https://www.iihs.org/topics/teenagers/graduated-licensing-laws-table?topicName=teenagers.

For more information about distracted driving, visit www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/distracted_driving.

April 2022