Teen Distracted Driving Report for 2022

Teens aren’t the only group guilty of distracted driving (driving while performing another activity, like texting or talking on the phone). However, because teens have the least driving experience, distracted driving can be especially dangerous in their hands, causing high accident and fatality rates.

We asked over 240 United States adults ages 18 to 24 about their distracted driving habits and combined their responses with federal data to learn more about teen distracted driving. Here are our key findings:

• 9 in 10 adults ages 18 to 24 talk on the phone while driving, while 8 in 10 write, send, or read text messages or emails while driving.
• Overall, 15- to 20-year-olds are 33 percent more likely to die in crashes related to distracted driving than the national average across all age groups.
• Only 16 percent of 14- and 15-year-olds, mostly permit-holders whose parents or guardians must accompany them, text or email while driving. By the time they are 18, have regular licenses, and can drive unsupervised, that number increases to 60 percent.

Teen Distracted Driving Facts and Statistics

Although our survey segment included ages 20 to 24 as well as 18 and 19, it gave us useful insights about how often teens drive while distracted.

The most common form of distracted driving is using phones for maps or directions while driving, which 93 percent of adults ages 18 to 24 admitted to. The second most common is eating or drinking while driving (91 percent), followed by talking on the phone (90 percent). Eight out of 10 respondents ages 18 to 24 text and drive — a dangerous habit even if done sparingly.

Teen Texting and Driving Statistics

Many people believe it’s OK to text if they are stopped or at a red light, but in the eyes of the law, this could still violate a state ban on texting and driving. Even so, nearly half of young drivers have texted or emailed while driving in the last week alone.

Unfortunately, as young adults gain more years of driving under their belts, their rates of texting or emailing while driving increase, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We believe this increase is due to changes in state restrictions for permits versus junior licenses versus graduated licenses.

While most 14- and 15-year olds drive with permits and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, by the time they get their regular licenses, they can drive without supervision, which leads to more distracted driving. By age 18, 6 in 10 people text and email while driving. This correlates with other risky behaviors, such as not wearing a seat belt, riding with a drunk driver, or driving under the influence themselves.¹

Texting and driving isn’t only dangerous, but also costly. The fines for texting and driving in New York, for example, range from $50 to $450 based on the offense number, while the fines for texting and driving in California range from $20 to $450.

Do Not Disturb and Hands-Free Modes

Although electronic device manufacturers implement programs to prevent people from using their phones while driving, such as Do Not Disturb mode, only 5 percent always use these features. Over half of 18- to 24-year-olds never use them.

Some states only ban the use of handheld devices, allowing drivers to talk on the phone over a speaker. Hands-free modes are more commonly used than Do Not Disturb or driving modes, with over 64 percent of young adults always talking hands-free while driving.

In 95 percent of cases, distracted driving does not lead to accidents. However, 5 percent of respondents admitted to having been in an accident or fender bender due to distracted driving, including incidents where theirs were the only cars involved.

The Effects of Teen Distracted Driving

In 2019, a total of 3,142 people were killed in car crashes that involved distracted driving. Drivers ages 15 to 19 make up the plurality, representing 9 percent of the total (283 people). Drivers ages 15 to 19 are 33 percent more likely to die in motor vehicle crashes related to distracted driving than the rest of the population, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).²

How to Prevent Teen Distracted Driving

If you’re a parent of a teen driver, it’s important to help them understand the dangers of distracted driving and set ground rules to avoid it. Here are the CDC’s teen driver safety tips on distracted driving:

• Show them the statistics. To help them grasp the severity of distracted driving, show your teen the hard statistics on its correlation with traffic fatalities. Answering a quick text message could lead to injuries or worse.
• Learn your state laws. Look up your state’s graduated driver licensing system guidelines and state laws surrounding handheld device usage (listed below). Note that teen driving laws often differ from laws for those over 18.
• Set consequences. Aside from telling your teen the medical and legal consequences of distracted driving, set your own consequences for driving distracted, like taking away their smartphone or driving privileges.
• Set an example. Most importantly, don’t break your own rules and drive distracted yourself. This will set a poor example for your child, who will be less likely to follow your rules (and the rules of the state).

Types of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can be divided into three major categories, according to the NHTSA.

• Visual: Taking your eyes off the road
• Cognitive: Taking your mind off the road
• Manual: Taking your hands off the wheel

These are some examples of distracted driving:

• Talking or texting
• Applying makeup
• Looking at photos
• Playing games
• Drinking coffee
• Managing children³

State and Federal Role in Distracted Driving

The state and federal government both take a role in setting and enforcing laws to prevent distracted driving.

State Laws

You and your teen should both be familiar with your state’s distracted driving laws — and the penalties for breaking them.

Federal Laws

While the federal government doesn’t have any overarching laws on distracted driving, it rewards states that do have those laws with federal grants. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, for example, created a special grant for distracted driving laws. To qualify, states must enact and enforce a ban on the use of electronic devices for drivers under 18. Among other requirements, they must also include awareness of distracted driving on the driver’s license exam.

In 2016, the NHTSA released voluntary guidelines for the manufacturers of electronic devices to address the issue of distracted driving. It included ideas about infotainment systems and driver mode, as much of distracted driving comes from cell phone use.⁵⁶

Conclusion

While distracted driving by teens is a pervasive issue in the U.S., you can get ahead of the problem by educating yourself and your teen. With the right information at hand, you can encourage safe driving and keep your teen’s eyes, mind, and hands on the wheel at all times. To learn more, read our car insurance research, which covers topics like uninsured motorists and hit-and-runs.

Methodology

On Dec. 16 and 17, 2021, we conducted an online survey via SurveyMonkey and Prolific of 242 U.S. adults ages 18 to 24. All of the participants had driver’s licenses and drove at least once per month. Here is more demographic information about the participants:

• They were 68 percent female, 29 percent male, and 3 percent other.
• 81 percent had iPhones, while 19 percent had Androids.

The survey results have a margin of error of 2 to 3 percent.

We also included third-party data from these state and federal government sources:

• California Highway Patrol
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Federal Highway Administration
• Governors Highway Safety Association
• National Conference of State Legislatures
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• U.S. National Archives