Driver Distraction in Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes: Statistics and Trends | Slides Statistics

NHTSA’s National Cent er for St atist ics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

Highlights

In 2009, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and

an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor

vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved dis-

tracted driving (FARS and GES).

Of those people killed in distracted-driving-related

crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distrac-

tion (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes).

Of those injured in distracted-driving-related crashes,

24,000 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction

(5% of injured people in distraction-related crashes).

Sixteen percent of fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports

of distracted driving.

Twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports

of distracted driving.

The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted

drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all

drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were

reported to have been distracted while driving.

Of those drivers involved in fatal crashes who were

reportedly distracted, the 30- to 39-year-olds had the

highest proportion of cell phone involvement.

Methodology

The data sources include NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Report-

ing System (FARS) and National Automotive Sampling Sys-

tem (NASS) General Estimates System (GES). FARS annu-

ally collects fatal crash data from all 50 States, the District

of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and is a census of all fatal

crashes that occur on the Nation’s roadways. NASS GES con-

tains data from a nationally representative sample of police-

reported crashes of all severities, includ ing those that result

in death, injury, or property damage. Data presented from

NASS GES are estimates and are used to describe police-

reported crashes that occur on the Nation’s roadways. The

national estimates produced from GES data are based on a

probability sample of crashes—not a census of all crashes—

and hence are subject to sampling errors.

As defined in the Overview of the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration’s Driver Distraction Program (DOT HS

811 299), “distraction” is a specific type of inattention that

occurs when drivers divert their attention from the driv-

ing task to focus on some other activity instead. It is worth

noting that distraction is a subset of inattention (which also

includes fatigue, physical conditions of the driver, and emo-

tional conditions of the driver).

There has been a revision in NHTSA’s classification of dis-

tracted driving since the September 2009 Research Note,

An Examination of Driver Distraction as Recorded in NHTSA

Databases (DOT HS 811 216). With this change, there will be

fewer crashes, fatalities and injuries that reportedly involve

driver distraction than would have been reported with the

previous definition. For a full explanation of the change and

the corresponding coding changes within NHTSA databas-

es, please see Appendix A.

There are inherent limitations in the data for distracted-

driving-related crashes and the resulting injuries and fatali-

ties. These limitations are being addressed through efforts

in and out of NHTSA as detailed in the Overview of NHTSA’s

Driver Distraction Program. Appendix B describes limitations

in the distracted-driving data. Appendix C discusses the

specific coding for distracted driving data from the National

Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS).

Presentation of Data

Fatalities in Crashes With Driver Distraction

In 2009, there were 30,797 fatal crashes in the United States,

which involved 45,230 drivers. In those crashes, 33,808

people were killed. Distraction was reported for 11 percent

(5,084) of the drivers involved in fatal crashes. In these crash-

es reported to have involved some form of distraction, 5,474

DOT HS 811 379 September 2010

TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS

Research Note

Distracted Driving 2009

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Highlights   In 2009, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and

an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved dis tracted driving (FARS and GES). -

  Of crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distrac tion (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). those people killed in distracted-driving-related-

  Of those injured in distracted-driving-related crashes, 24,000 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (5% of injured people in distraction-related crashes).

  Sixteen percent of fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.

  Twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.

  The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were

  reported to have been distracted while driving.Of those drivers involved in fatal crashes who were

reportedly distracted, the 30- to 39-year-olds had the highest proportion of cell phone involvement.

Methodology The data sources include NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Report-

ing System (FARS) and National Automotive Sampling Sys tem (NASS) General Estimates System (GES). FARS annu ally collects fatal crash data from all 50 States, the District--

of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and is a census of all fatal crashes that occur on the Nation’s roadways. NASS GES con tains data from a nationally representative sample of police--

reported crashes of all severities, includ in death, injury, or property damage. Data presented from NASS GES are estimates and are used to describe police-ing those that result

reported crashes that occur on the Nation’s roadways. The national estimates produced from GES data are based on a probability sample of crashes—not a census of all crashes—

and hence are subject to sampling errors. As defined in the Overview of the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration’s Driver Distraction Program 811 299), “distraction” is a specific type of inattention that occurs when drivers divert their attention from the driv (DOT HS-

ing task to focus on some other activity instead. It is worth noting that includes fatigue, physical conditions of the driver, and emo distraction is a subset of inattention (which also-

tional conditions of the driver). There has been a revision in NHTSA’s classification of dis-

tracted driving An Examination of Driver Distraction as Recorded Databases (DOT HS 811 216). With this change, there will be since the September 2009 Research Note, in NHTSA

fewer crashes, fatalities and injuries that reportedly involve driver distraction than would have been reported with the previous definition. For a full explanation of the change and

the corresponding coding changes within NHTSA databas es, please see Appendix A. -

There are inherent limitations in the data for distracted- driving-related crashes and the resulting injuries and fatali ties. These limitations are being addressed through efforts-

in and out of NHTSA as detailed in the Driver Distraction Program in the distracted-driving data. Appendix C discusses the. Appendix B describes limitations Overview of NHTSA’s

specific coding for distracted driving data from the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS).

Presentation of Data Fatalities in Crashes With Driver Distraction

In 2009, there were 30,797 fatal crashes in the United States, which involved 45,230 drivers. In those crashes, 33,808 people were killed. Distraction was reported for 11 percent

(5,084) of the drivers involved in fatal crashes. In these crash es reported to have involved some form of distraction, 5,474-

DOT HS 811 379 September 2010

T Research NoteRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS

Distracted Driving 2009

2 fatalities (16% of overall fatalities) occurred. Table 1 provides

information about fatal crashes with reported distraction from 2005 through 2009.

The proportion of fatalities reportedly associated with driv er distraction increased from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2009. During that time, fatal crashes with reported driver-

distraction also increased from 10 percent to 16 percent. As reported for 2009, 4,898 fatal crashes occurred that

involved distraction, which includes single-vehicle crashes and multivehicle crashes. For single-vehicle crashes, the driver was reported as distracted and thus the crash was

reported as a distracted-driving crash. However, in multi vehicle crashes, the crash was reported as a distracted-driv ing crash if at least one driver was reported as distracted.--

In some of these multivehicle crashes, multiple drivers were reported as distracted. In 2009, 5,084 drivers were reported as distracted in the 4,898 fatal crashes involving distraction.

The portion of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of the fatal crashes increased from 7 percent in 2005 to 11 per cent in 2009. -

In 2009, 867 fatal crashes were reported to have involved cell phones as distraction (18% of all fatal distracted-driving crashes). For these crashes, the police reported that the cell

phone was either in use at the time of the crash or was in the presence of the driver at the time of the crash. Cell phones were reported as distraction for 20 percent of the distracted

drivers in fatal crashes. A total of 995 people died in fatal crashes that involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction.

Most of the distracted-driving-related fatalities (84%) were associated with the vehicle in a careless or inattentive manner (could include general classification of operating the

cell phones [for States without cell phone identification on the reporting form], eating, talking to passenger, looking outside, etc.). It should be noted that the distracted-driving-

related crashes and fatalities may be associated with mul tiple categories of distraction. For instance, some of the fatalities may be associated with both cell phone use and-

operating a vehicle in a careless or inattentive manner. Spe cifically related to cell phone involvement, the specific activ ity with the cell phone (talking, dialing, texting, etc.) is not--

known.

Source: Table 2 describes 2009 fatal crash data by age of drivers NCSA, FARS 2005-2008 (Final), 2009 (ARF)

with reported distracted-driving behavior and the types of vehicles driven. The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was the under-20 age

group – 16 percent of all under-20 drivers in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. The age group with the next greatest proportion was 20- to

29-year-old drivers – 13 percent of all 20- to 29-year-old driv ers in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted. Light-truck drivers and motorcyclists had the greatest per--

centage of total drivers reported as distracted at the time of the fatal crashes (12% each). Bus drivers had the smallest percentage (6%) of total drivers involved in fatal crashes that

were reported as distraction-related. Of those drivers reportedly distracted during a fatal crash,

the 30- to 39-year-old drivers were the group with the great est proportion distracted by cell phones. Cell phone distrac tion was reported for 24 percent of the 30- to 39-year-old--

distracted drivers in fatal crashes. As for the under-20 age group drivers involved in fatal crashes, cell phone distrac tion was reported for 22 percent of the distracted drivers. -

4 Figure 1 provides a graphical representation of the percent-

age of distracted driving crashes for a particular severity from 2005 through 2009. This graph illustrates any fluctua tion during the five-year period. From 2005 to 2009 the per--

centage of fatal crashes involving distraction increased. The percentage of injury crashes dropped some initially, but has since increased again. Property-damage-only crashes had a

high year in 2005, but have remained stable in the four sub sequent years. -

References Ascone, D., Lindsey, T., & Varghese, C. (2009, September).

An Examination of Driver Distraction as Recorded in NHT SA Databases. DOT HS 811 216. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Available at http://-

www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811216.pdf NHTSA. (2008, July). National Motor Vehicle Crash Causa. -

tion Survey: Report to Congress. DOT HS 811 059. Washing ton, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811059.-

PDF NHTSA. (2010, April). Overview of the National Highway.

Traffic Safety Administration’s Driver Distraction Program. DOT HS 811 299. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Available at http://www.distraction.

gov/files/dot/6835_DriverDistractionPlan_4-14_v6_tag.pdf.

Appendix A Using this definition of distraction, FARS and GES were

accessed to retrieve crashes that indicated driver distraction. For FARS data detailing fatal crashes, driver distraction was captured as a driver-related factor. Table A shows the attri-

butes (specific activities) that NHTSA includes as distracted driving in the FARS data.

The GES database contains a specific variable, “Driver Dis tracted By,” which contains attributes that NHTSA includes for determining the number of non-fatal crashes involving-

reports of distracted driving. Table B shows the attributes (specific activities) that NHTSA includes as distracted driv ing for GES data. -

crashes, distracted drivers in fatal crashes, and fatalities in distracted-driving crashes using this revised, current definition as well as the same categories of data had NHTSA not revised the definition.

Also to be taken into consideration is the speed at which technologies are changing and the difficulty in updating the PAR to accommodate these changes. Without broad, sweep-

ing changes to the PAR to incorporate new technologies and features of technologies, it is difficult to capture the data that involves interaction with these devices.

In the reporting of distracted-driving-related crashes, often times external distractions are identified as a distinct type of distraction. Some of the scenarios captured under exter--

nal distractions might actually be related to the task of driv ing (e.g. looking at a street sign). However, the crash reports may not differentiate these driving-related tasks from other-

external distractions (looking at previous crash or billboard). Currently, the category of external distractions is included in the counts of distracted-driving-related crashes.

Highlights In 2009, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and

Of crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distrac tion (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). those people killed in distracted-driving-related-

Of those injured in distracted-driving-related crashes, 24,000 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (5% of injured people in distraction-related crashes).

Sixteen percent of fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.

Twenty percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving.

The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group – 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were

reported to have been distracted while driving.Of those drivers involved in fatal crashes who were