Technological advancements have made many parts of life easier, but they have also led to a slew of new distractions tempting drivers to take their eyes off of the road. However, while these gadgets certainly contribute to the number of vehicle accidents, many distractions plaguing American drivers are nothing new.
According to a survey from Compare the Market, 81% of American drivers have been in a car accident that involved a distracted driver. When it comes to what drivers find the most distracting while they’re on the road, 41% said it was the weather.
Tricky weather situations – like precipitation, wind and fog – can impact a roadway’s visibility, debris hazards, traffic flow and the performance of the vehicle itself. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are almost 1,235,000 weather-related vehicle accidents each year. These accidents cause around 418,000 injuries and 5,000 deaths annually. Most of these crashes (70%) happen on wet pavement, and 46% happen during rainfall.
Eating or drinking was the next most common distraction surveyed drivers cited at 33%, followed by dealing with children or pets (32%), writing or reading a text message with the phone in-hand (29%) and phoning with the device in-hand (27%).
There were variations in what distracted drivers most state-to-state, however, with some of the most notable including:
- Idaho: Half of Idaho drivers said they are most distracted by applying cosmetics.
- Nebraska, Utah, Arkansas and Washington, D.C.: 33% of drivers from these areas stated they are most distracted by smoking or vaping.
- West Virginia: A majority of West Virginia drivers (60%) said their biggest distraction is daydreaming.
The survey found the average damage to a vehicle in the U.S. from a distracted driving accident is $1,505.02, and 13% of drivers in the U.S. say they have written off a vehicle after a distracted driving incident.
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