How many people die a year from texting and driving?
How many people die a year from texting and driving continues to increase. In 2018, 385 people died and 400,000 injuries occurred from texting and driving. These deaths and injuries are all completely avoidable. Waiting to send a text can save hundreds of lives a year, and can save your insurance rates.
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Insurance Lawyer
Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...
Jeffrey Johnson
Insurance Lawyer
Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...
Jeffrey Johnson
Updated July 2023
- Texting and driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than drinking and driving
- 21 percent of teen drivers involved in traffic fatalities admit to using their cellphone
- Almost 400 people a year die from texting and driving accidents
Even taking your eyes from the road for a second can have deadly consequences. Taking five seconds to send a text is the same as driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
We all know texting and driving is dangerous, but just how many people die a year from texting and driving?
Keep reading to find out all of the latest texting and driving statistics.
Also, the chances of being in an accident are pretty high so make sure you have the proper auto insurance in place.
Shop around for affordable car insurance today. Just enter your ZIP code to compare auto insurance quotes if you’ve ever received a texting and driving ticket.
What are the texting and driving statistics?
Texting and driving has become an epidemic in the U.S. Everyone knows it’s dangerous, yet few people resist the urge to send that text.
According to the CDC, distracted driving takes three forms:
- Visual – taking your eyes off the road
- Manual – taking your hands off the wheel
- Cognitive – taking your mind off driving
Texting and driving qualify for all three forms, making it one of the worst forms of distracted driving. If you’re texting and driving, a car accident will likely be your fault.
In 2018, 385 people died from crashes related to texting and driving. That means about eight people die each day from texting and driving. These deaths are completely avoidable.
There is an average of 1.6 million car accidents from distracted driving, and one in four of those are from texting and driving. Almost 400,000 injuries occur each year because of texting and driving. That’s around 1,000 injuries a day that can be prevented.
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How can texting and driving fatalities be avoided?
All but three states have laws banning texting and driving, and 16 bans using a hand-held device totally. Breaking these laws leads not only to fines but much higher car insurance rates as well.
Drivers 20-29 years old are the worst offenders when it comes to using a cell phone and driving. Considering car insurance rates don’t drop until age 25, this can lead to some extremely high auto insurance rates.
There are some easy things to do to avoid those accidents and higher insurance rates:
- Avoid multitasking while driving – Don’t respond to or send text messages, play with your GPS, or otherwise take your attention off the road.
- Use an app that blocks your texts while driving – You can even set it up so that a message is sent saying you are driving and will respond when you are done.
- Speak up – If you are a passenger, speak up if the driver is texting or doing anything that distracts them. Offer to send that text for them.
- Sign up for a telematics program – Many insurers offer programs that give you a discount for safe driving and give immediate feedback if you are driving poorly. This can make you much for conscious of your driving habits.
Texting and driving kills people every day. Put your phone down to avoid accidents, deaths, and increased car insurance.
Whether or not you’ve gotten a ticket for texting and driving, shop around to find the lowest auto insurance rates out there. Just enter your ZIP code now to compare auto insurance quotes after texting and driving.
Case Studies: The Impact of Texting And Driving
Case Study 1: Sarah’s Tragic Accident
Sarah, a 25-year-old driver, couldn’t resist the urge to send a quick text while driving. In a split second, her attention was diverted from the road, leading to a catastrophic accident. Sadly, Sarah lost her life due to texting and driving. Her family and friends were devastated by the avoidable tragedy that unfolded before their eyes.
Case Study 2: Mark’s Near-Fatal Collision
Mark, a 30-year-old professional, considered himself a skilled multitasker. He believed he could handle texting while driving without consequences. However, one fateful day, Mark’s overconfidence led to a near-fatal collision. As he glanced down at his phone to send a message, he failed to notice the red light ahead. The resulting crash left him with severe injuries and a long road to recovery.
Case Study 3: Emily’s Life-Altering Consequences
Emily, a high school student, often succumbed to the temptation of texting while driving. One afternoon, while composing a message, she veered off the road and collided with a tree. The impact left her with a spinal cord injury, causing permanent paralysis from the waist down. Emily’s dreams of playing sports and pursuing an active lifestyle were shattered in an instant.
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