Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions

Distracted Driving

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Auto insurance companies are part of a broad spectrum of organizations warning of the dangers of distracted driving and taking steps to curb deadly behaviors while behind the wheel.

While distracted driving can include a number of activities, from eating to using a phone to fiddling with the radio, texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three types of distractions.

Statewide laws and penalties are the fastest ways to change the culture. Texas enacted a statewide ban on texting while driving on Sept. 1, 2017.

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Distracted Driving Statistics 2024

A 2022 national observational survey found that 2.1% of drivers stopped at intersections were talking on hand-held phones at any moment during the day (National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2024). Combining this observational data with self-reported data on hand-held and hands-free phone use, the federal government estimates that 6.4% of drivers were using a hand-held or hands-free cellphone during any moment of the day. The MarketWatch Guides team reviewed sources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and more to highlight the dangers of distracted driving. If you’re guilty of driving distracted, take a moment to reconsider. Your decision to put the phone down and keep your full attention on the road could save your life and protect others on the road.

Distracted Driving Position

Auto insurance companies – including TCAIS member companies – are part of a broad spectrum of organizations warning of the dangers of distracted driving and taking steps to curb deadly behaviors while behind the wheel.

Distracted driving was responsible for 93,512 crashes in Texas in 2021 – one in five of all vehicle crashes. More than 431 people died as a result, and 2,934 were seriously injured. The number of crashes was highest among young drivers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes three main types of distraction:

• Visual – taking your eyes off the road

• Manual – taking your hands off the wheel

• Cognitive – taking your mind off of driving.

Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three types of distractions. A driver who sends or reads a text message takes his eyes of the road for about five seconds, long enough to cover a football field when driving at 55 mph.

In addition to Texas law that has banned texting while driving statewide since Sept. 1, 2017, Austin and San Antonio entirely prohibit the use of handheld devices while driving or riding a bicycle.

Auto insurance companies, cell phone providers, car companies and safety advocates have campaigns to educate consumers about the dangers of all forms of distracted driving. Some of TCAIS member insurance companies also have apps for download to help the public drive more safety.