April was Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and The General Insurance and Mazda have teamed up to spread awareness around the dangers of distracted driving. Jennifer Morrison, Director of Vehicle Safety Strategy at Mazda North American Operations, provided key insights into how technology can combat distracted driving. Learn how to stay safe behind the wheel using hands-free technology and get the facts on distracted driving with this guide.

Key Takeaways

  • Distracted driving is a serious safety issue, with phone use being one of the most common and dangerous forms of distraction.
  • Awareness campaigns and changes in driving behavior are leading to real improvements, including fewer accidents and more informed drivers.
  • Hands-free technology and driver-assist features are helping drivers stay connected while keeping their focus on the road.

What Is Distracted Driving?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as anything that takes your attention away from the road. That includes adjusting the radio, applying makeup, and snacking. However, most distracted driving incidents involve phone use. Texting, talking, scrolling, and checking social media behind the wheel are all forms of distracted driving. Texting is considered one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving as it occupies our minds, hands, and vision.

Distracted Driving Statistics: The Toll of Driving While Distracted

Distracted driving can be deadly. It puts you, your passengers, other drivers, and even pedestrians in danger. According to NHTSA data from 2023, roughly 3,275 drivers lost their lives in crashes that involved distracted driving. In addition, eight percent of all fatal accidents in 2023 involved distracted drivers, and over 32,000 people have died in accidents involving distracted drivers from 2014 to 2023.

How Usage-Based Insurance Reduces Distracted Driving

One of the most effective new tools in the fight against distracted driving is Usage-Based Insurance (UBI), which uses telematics to track your driving behavior and reward safe habits. According to Cambridge Mobile Telematics, the popularity of UBI is linked to a decrease in distracted driving. UBI has increased in popularity by 220% since 2020. Since UBI tracks driving behavior, it makes drivers more aware of their driving habits, both good and bad. It also incentivizes safe driving, offering lower premiums to drivers with better habits, like avoiding phone use while driving. When drivers know their habits impact their premiums, they tend to make better decisions.

Reducing Distracted Driving

Thanks to awareness efforts and UBI, distracted driving is becoming less common. For example, according to a study conducted by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), distracted driving was reduced by 8.6% in 2024, the second consecutive year of improvement and the lowest screen interaction levels since 2020. CMT estimates the drop in distracted driving prevented over 100,000 crashes, 480 fatalities, and $4.2 billion in economic losses.

This decrease in distracted driving can be attributed to key behavioral changes:

  • Drivers interacted with their phones for one minute and fifty-six seconds per driving hour in 2024—the lowest levels since 2020.
  • Phone handling time—the amount of time drivers spend physically holding their phones—dropped to 11.3% in 2024, now below pre-pandemic levels.
  • Speeding declined by 21% compared to 2022.

NHTSA data supports these findings. They reported a 4.4% decline in traffic fatalities during the first nine months of 2024. In addition, states like Michigan and Ohio have introduced “hands-free laws” that prohibit the use of handheld devices while driving. In these states, phone use is only allowed via hands-free technology. Overall, awareness efforts have been successful, with a 57% increase in public awareness of distracted driving risks.

Technology and Car Safety Features

Distracted driving is also declining due to the use of hands-free features in cars that allow drivers to connect to their phones while keeping their hands on the wheel. While many drivers struggle to avoid their phones, especially during long trips, these hands-free technologies allow users to connect with their loved ones without picking up their device. Drivers can use navigational tools and listen to podcasts and music while keeping their eyes on the road. However, driving completely distraction-free is still the safest option.

Modern vehicles contain additional features designed to enhance safe driving. Safety features that can reduce distracted driving include:

  • Lane-keep assist. Lane-keep assist and lane departure warning emit a sound and apply steering assistance if you’ve unconsciously moved out of your designated lane.
  • Blind-spot monitoring. An increasingly popular technology, blind-spot monitoring adds an extra set of eyes to the area over your shoulder that many drivers forget to check or have trouble seeing. It sounds an alert if there’s a vehicle approaching your blind spot.
  • Adaptive cruise control. Cruise control lets you set a designated speed to maintain during open road cruising. It automatically slows your vehicle when approaching another car to create an appropriate amount of following distance.
  • Collision mitigation. Mazda’s collision mitigation technologies detect potential crashes and warn the driver or automatically apply the brakes to prevent accidents.

All Mazda vehicles come equipped with advanced safety technology. According to Jennifer, “When we saw the rise in cellphone use become the key source of distraction in the early 2000s, initial efforts were to eliminate cell phones in vehicles completely. The initiative has since shifted to minimizing use through safer integrations. Mazda has implemented technologies like Apple Car Play and Android Auto that reduce hands-on phone use and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) like Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which act as essential support if a driver does lose focus.”

Tips for Staying Focused on the Road

  • Put your phone away: Store your phone in the glove compartment, center console, or use a “Do Not Disturb” driving mode to avoid the temptation to check it.
  • Set your GPS and playlist before you drive: Enter your destination and pick your entertainment ahead of time so you’re not adjusting settings on the move.
  • Stay organized: Keep your essentials within easy reach to avoid rummaging through bags or seats while driving.
  • Take breaks on long trips: Pull over at rest stops to stretch, check your messages, and refocus before getting back on the road.
  • Limit in-car distractions: Avoid eating, grooming, or engaging in intense conversations that could take your attention off the road.
  • Use hands-free features: Take advantage of your car’s hands-free calling, voice commands, and driver-assist technology to help you stay focused.

Technology is constantly evolving, but the best way to prevent distracted driving is by keeping your attention on the road. Reflect on your own driving habits—have you ever driven while distracted? In addition, if you’re looking for an affordable insurance policy, get quoted for a Usage-Based Insurance plan that rewards your focus.