A Family Promise: Preventing Distracted Driving Together
Resource
Distracted Driving
In 2023, distracted driving crashes killed 132 people and injured another 19,194 on North Carolina roads (Source: NCDOT Crash Facts).
Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel
Things can change quickly on the road, so when you are driving, every second is critical.
Even a brief distraction or a momentary lapse in attention, such as a “quick” glance at a phone, significantly delays your reaction time and increases your risk of a crash.
The best way to keep yourself safe is to give your full attention to your surroundings when you drive. Quick reactions can mean the difference between narrowly avoiding a collision and facing a serious crash. Stay vigilant and ready to make split-second decisions by keeping your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Help your loved ones stay focused
If you know someone is driving, avoid calling or texting them. If someone answers behind the wheel, politely ask them to call you when they are safely stopped and hang up.
Communicating During Emergencies
Set an example by refusing to text or call while driving. Let everyone know that you will not answer behind the wheel, but if you get two phone calls in a row, you will pull over to a safe place and call back.
Hands-Free Distraction
Everyone knows that texting and driving is dangerous. But did you know that hands-free conversations also cause crashes? Talking on speakerphone gives you tunnel vision while driving. Even if you’re looking up at the road in front of you, a phone call pulls your attention away and can lead you to miss up to half of your surroundings.
Using Technology to Stay Focused
Most phones have a “Do not disturb while driving” setting or option, which will automatically silence calls or texts while driving. Take advantage of these settings to remove the temptation of a phone alert and keep your focus on the road.
It Takes a Community: Just Drive
Use your social media pages and influence for good. If you see distracted driving online – speak up! By rejecting posts that were recorded behind the wheel, we can stigmatize distracted driving and shape a safer future for our communities.
Data & Analytics
Distracted Driving
View the locations and trends of distracted driving crashes in NC. See which counties are above and below the state average for percent of total crashes that are reported as "distracted driving."
OpenopenResources
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more dangerous - talking to a passenger while driving or talking on a phone while driving?
Talking on a phone while driving is more dangerous than talking to a passenger. A phone call is more dangerous because the person on the other end cannot see what is happening on the road and may pull your attention away in an emergency situation.
For example, if a driver in front of you suddenly brakes, a passenger in the car will stop talking and may help the situation by saying “watch out!” However, a person on the phone will continue to talk, unaware of any potential danger, making it more difficult for you to focus and react quickly.
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