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- Younger drivers are still the most likely to be texting and driving in a crash.
- Drivers aged 21-34 are the most distracted overall, but often by things other than texting — including navigation apps, food, passengers, or social media.
- Drivers aged 42 and older are statistically involved in the fewest distracted driving crashes.
As April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, new data from Iowa DOT studied by the Car Accident Injury team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair reveals a troubling trend on Iowa’s roads. Using vehicle crash data from the Iowa Crash Analysis Tool between 2023-2024 we discovered that the number of crashes caused by texting and driving has decreased 7% the previous year, the total number of crashes tied to distracted driving is still rising. This shift shows that although public education and enforcement efforts around texting while driving may be working, other dangerous distractions are taking their place.
|
|
Distracted Texting |
Distracted All |
||||
|
Year |
2023 |
2024 |
% Change |
2023 |
2024 |
% Change |
|
Total Crashes |
400 |
372 |
-7% |
52,868 |
53,260 |
0.7% |
The 21-34 age group stands out as the most distracted overall, making up over 29% of distracted crashed, with distractions extending beyond cell phone use to include in-vehicle entertainment, food, passengers, social media, navigation systems, and other activities that divert attention from the road.
|
Age |
Distracted All |
Distracted Texting |
|
14-20 |
58,975 |
594 |
|
21-27 |
60,533 |
490 |
|
28-34 |
51,821 |
286 |
|
35-41 |
46,079 |
203 |
|
42-48 |
37,891 |
111 |
|
49-55 |
33,904 |
83 |
|
56-62 |
33,276 |
62 |
|
62+ |
58,938 |
73 |
While people may be getting the message about texting and driving, they're finding new ways to lose focus behind the wheel. It is not just about phones anymore — it’s about anything that takes your hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, or mind off the task of driving. Broadening the conversation beyond texting and addressing all the ways drivers take their eyes, hands, and minds off the task of driving will help keep roads safe.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving claimed over 3,500 lives nationwide in 2023. The NHTSA emphasize that distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of injury and fatal crashes, especially among younger drivers. Despite public awareness campaigns and enhanced penalties, distraction-related crashes continue to climb, particularly among Iowa’s young adult population.
Walker, Billingsley & Bair urges all drivers to use April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month as a reminder to stay focused on the road. Whether it is sending a quick text, eating lunch, or changing a playlist — even a few seconds of distraction can have life-changing consequences
