10 Facts About Distracted Driving That Will Make You Put the Phone Down

Written by: Patrick Brown 

Did you know…

1. 911 is the only number you can dial on your cell phone without being charged with distracted driving.
2. Drivers who are texting on a cell phone are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than non-distracted drivers.
3. 1/3 of students in Grade 10 to 12 in Ontario admitted having texted while driving at least once in the past year.
4. Driver distraction is the cause of nearly 4 million car accidents in North America each year.
5. 20 to 30% of crashes involve driver distraction.
6. It takes only one second of inattentiveness to cause a car accident. Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting.
7. In 2013, 78 people in Ontario died in distracted-driving-related collisions. While 57 were killed in impaired driving related collisions. Distracted driving has continued to cause more fatalities than impaired driving every year.
8. 22% of Canadians admit to texting while driving.
9. Data obtained from the Toronto Police between 2000 and 2012 showed that the number of drivers described as “inattentive” grew by 50%.
10. A survey from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) found that over 90% of drivers recognize the danger of distracted driving.

These are startling statistics, yet Canadian drivers continue to talk, text, eat and fall asleep behind the wheel. I am saddened to report that I see the evidence at my personal injury law practice in Toronto far, far too frequently. The next time you hit the road, please make safety your number one priority and avoid distracted driving.