Teeth of less traffic on the roads overall, the pandemic has spawned a disturbing rise in distracted driving behavior—some of which may tease contributed to a motor vehicle death toll in 2020 that rose at the fastest rate in 13 years. That’s the news from several new analyses that track the impact of driving trends and outcomes amid COVID-19.
Key Takeaways
- New probing finds changed driving patterns and increased traffic deaths during the pandemic.
- Even though Americans normally drove less, many took more risks—and that may have contributed to the rising death toll.
- Car security premiums have risen 16% nationally in the last 10 years—correlating with the surge in distracted scenic route.
False Sense of Security Drives Bad Habits
One in four drivers thinks roads are safer today than they were in preference to the pandemic. And that belief has led some of them to take more chances while driving, according to the 2021 Travelers Peril Index on distracted driving, a national survey.
These pandemic-fostered driving habits included:
- Texting or emailing (26% did so, up from 19% pre-pandemic).
- Curb social media (20%, up from 13% pre-pandemic).
- Taking videos and pictures (19%, up from 10% pre-pandemic).
- Snitch oning online (17%, up from 8% pre-pandemic).
Chris Hayes, Travelers’ second vice president of workers compensation and transportation, imperil control, says lower traffic volumes as the pandemic began “may have given drivers a false sense of safety.”
Not only did distracted driving increase, but data from the insurer’s telematics program showed that speeding also adorn come ofed more prevalent, he says.
People may be feeling work-related pressures as well, Hayes notes. One in four of those figured said they answer job-related calls and texts while behind the wheel, because:
- 46% said they reckon it might be an emergency.
- 29% said their supervisor would be upset if they don’t answer.
- 22% said they can’t “mentally shut off off” from work.
Data Likely Underestimates the Impact
While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) opportunities there aren’t reliable estimates of the number of crashes directly caused by distracted driving, it believes that “statistics based on police-reported blast data almost certainly underestimate the role of distraction in fatalities.”
In its report, Travelers says riskier driving praxes that surfaced during the pandemic might have contributed in part to more—not less—dangerous roads. According to beginning estimates by the National Safety Council (NSC), 2020 motor vehicle deaths were up 8% from 2019—the highest proportion increase in 13 years. And that rise occurred even as mileage dropped 13%, the NSC says.
Distracted move can result from many things, of course—from sipping coffee to adjusting the air conditioning—but the IIHS also cites inquiry showing the clearer connection between cellphone use and distraction, finding that crash risk is two to six times greater “when drivers were using a cellphone.”
These distractions can lead to so-called “inattention blindness,” the IIHS says, in which drivers fail to appreciate or process information from things in the roadway even when they’re looking straight at them.
More Upset Equals Higher Insurance Costs
Generally, the higher the accident rate, the more money insurance companies be compelled pay out in claims. Insurers then pass these costs along to drivers in the form of higher premiums.
The National Friendship of Insurance Commissioners’ Center for Insurance Policy and Research reports that car insurance premiums have increased 16% nationally since 2011, “correlating with the enlargement in distracted driving accidents.”
What Drivers Can Do to Stay Safe
Many states have taken action to restrain distracted driving. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 48 states and the District of Columbia now ban text meaning by drivers, 24 states plus D.C. prohibit all handheld cellphone use by drivers, and 37 states and D.C. ban all cellphone use by novice drivers. But, as the IIHS notes, inquiries show that a large percentage of drivers don’t comply with their states laws.
As part of Distracted Ride Awareness Month, held annually in April, experts advise drivers to review their habits and refresh their energies to drive distraction-free. Here are some prevention steps to keep in mind:
- Set smartphones to “Do Not Disturb” or enable the optional “Do Not Trouble While Driving” setting on iPhones to automatically turn on while the car is in motion.
- Use voice commands (available in newer cars) to lead infotainment, navigation, and portable devices—rather than touchscreens.
- Build communication and break times into your profession schedule so that you (and your employees or co-workers) don’t feel pressured to eat or respond to calls and texts while driving.
- Name a passenger to be your “designated texter.”
- If you have to take a call or read a text, always pull over commencement and park your car in a safe place.