Introduction
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts attention from safe driving.
Examples of Distracted Driving
Data Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2020, November 5). Distracted Driving. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
Summary
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Examples of distracted driving include but are not limited to talking or texting on cell phones, eating and drinking, talking to people inside the vehicle, and manipulating audio systems or navigation systems.
In summary, distracted driving is any activity that shifts a motorist's focus away from driving.
The Federal Highway Administration names safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care as key elements of a Safe System. This approach considers human attributes, such as momentary lapses of attention that may lead to roadway injury or fatalities.
Distracted Driving Fatality Trends Nationwide and in California from 2018 to 2022
Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2018 – 2021 Final File & 2022 ARF
Summary
- Nationally, 3308 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2022.
- In California, there were 148 people killed in distracted driving traffic crashes in 2022.
- Distracted driving fatalities decreased nationally by 6.4 percent between 2021 and 2022.
- Distracted driving fatalities decreased in California 5.1 percent between 2021 and 2022.
Nationwide Summary
Breakdown of Distracted Driving Fatalities Nationwide and in California in 2021
Data sources: i) National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2024, June, Revised). Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2022. DOT HS 813 560. NHTSA, p14; ii) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2018 – 2021 Final File & 2022 ARF
Summary
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In 2022, 8 percent (or 3308) of all motor vehicle fatalities nationwide were distracted driving related.
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In 2022, 3 percent (or 148) of all motor vehicle fatalities in California were distracted driving related.
Cell Phone Use by Motorists Over Time Nationwide in 2021
Data Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2022, August). Driver electronic device use in 2021 (Traffic Safety Facts Research Note. Report No. DOT HS 813 357). NHTSA. Page 1
Summary
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In 2021, the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) indicated a slight decrease (0.1 percent) of motorists talking on cell phone devices, going from 2.6 percent in 2020 to 2.5 percent in 2021.
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Motorists aged 16-24, saw an increase of 1.1 percent in 2021 of drivers holding their phones to their ears while driving.
Main Types of Electronic Device Use While Driving Nationwide in 2021
Data Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2022, August). Driver electronic device use in 2021 (Traffic Safety Facts Research Note. Report No. DOT HS 813 357). NHTSA. Page 1
Summary
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The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) 2022 observed three prominent types of electronic device use while driving. These include “holding phones to their ears”, “speaking with visible headsets on”, and “visibly manipulating handheld devices”.
Handheld Device Use Nationwide in 2021
Note: The NOPUS data for visible manipulation of handheld devices from 2021 is not comparable to data collected from previous years due to a revised definition that includes drivers interacting with infotainment devices, such as radios, navigation systems, or CarPlay.
Data Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis. (2022, August). Driver electronic device use in 2021 (Traffic Safety Facts Research Note. Report No. DOT HS 813 357). NHTSA. Page 1
Summary
- In 2021, the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) indicated 3.4 percent of drivers were visibly manipulating a handheld device.
California Summary
The information in this section refers to fatally or seriously injured persons in a distracted driving crash in California in 2022.
Distracted Driving Fatalities and Serious Injuries by County in 2022
Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities
| Ranking | Counties | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 17 |
| 1 | San Bernardino | 17 |
| 3 | Orange | 11 |
| 4 | Riverside | 8 |
| 5 | San Diego | 7 |
Top 5 Counties in California by Fatalities Per 100k Population
| Ranking | County | Fatalities Per 100k Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inyo | 10.6 |
| 2 | Plumas | 5.2 |
| 3 | Colusa | 4.6 |
| 4 | Siskiyou | 2.3 |
| 5 | Tuolumne | 1.8 |
Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries
| Ranking | County | Serious Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 140 |
| 2 | San Bernardino | 44 |
| 3 | San Diego | 43 |
| 4 | Riverside | 31 |
| 5 | Sacramento | 30 |
Top 5 Counties in California by Serious Injuries Per 100k Population
| Ranking | County | Serious Injuries Per 100k Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siskiyou | 18.4 |
| 2 | Colusa | 13.8 |
| 3 | Lake | 10.4 |
| 4 | Mono | 7.7 |
| 5 | Lassen | 6.7 |
Note: The ranking for the number of fatalities per 100k population is based on unrounded calculations.
Data source: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2022; ii) State of California, Department of Finance, E-4 Population Estimates for Cities, Counties, and the State, 2021-2024, with 2020 Census Benchmark. Sacramento, California, May 2024.
Primary Crash Factors and Crash Types for Distracted Driving Fatal and Serious Injury (FSI) Crashes
Top Five Primary Crash Factors of Distracted Driving Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2022)
Note: For more information on the different Crash Types, please see the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) Help FAQ page, in the Codebook - Crash Level Section
Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2022
Summary
- Unsafe speed was the most common primary crash factor in distracted driving FSI crashes in 2022 making up 24.2 percent, followed by improper turning (18.1 percent) and pedestrian violation (11.0 percent.)
- Driving or bicycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs followed by traffic signals and signs made up the fourth and fifth most common primary crash factor in distracted driving FSI crashes in 2022 accounting for 10.8 and 7.2 percent respectively.
Crash Location for Fatal Distracted Driving Crashes
Crash Location of Fatal Distracted Crashes in California in 2022
Note: Urban and Rural areas are defined in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) based on the boundaries decided by the US Census Bureau which considers population and housing density.
Data source: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2022; ii) California Public Road Data 2020. pp. 15-17, Table 4 2020 HPMS.
Summary
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Urban Crashes accounted for a little over 82 percent of all distracted driving fatal crashes compared to the 18 percent that occurred on rural roads. For comparison, 18.5 percent of travel in 2020 occurred on rural roads.
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Principal arterials were the most common location for distracted driving fatal crashes accounting for 32 percent.
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Minor arterials, followed by interstates made up the second and third most common crash locations in distracted driving fatal crashes accounting for 31 and 12 percent respectively.
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Other Freeways and Expressways, Major Collectors, Local streets, and Minor Collectors constitute the remaining 25 percent.
Victim Demographics for Distracted Driving Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes
Gender, Age and Race in Victims in Fatal and Serious Injury Distracted Driving Crashes in California in 2022
Data sources: i) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2022; ii) Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2022
Summary
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Male victims made up 66 percent of all fatally injured victims and 58 percent of all seriously injured victims in distracted driving crashes in 2022.
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Male victims aged 25-34 were the most represented group in distracted driving crashes in 2022, making up 19 percent of fatalities.
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Male victims aged 25-34 were the most represented group in distracted driving crashes in 2022, making up 15.5 percent of fatalities.
- Race was reported in only 36.5 percent of all distracted driving fatalities in 2022. Of the 54 fatalities of distracted driving crashes in 2022 with a known race, 78 percent were white.
Top Five Crash Types of Drug-involved Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in California (2022)
Note: For more information on the different Crash Types, please see the Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) Help FAQ page, in the Codebook - Crash Level Section
Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2022
Summary
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Vehicle/pedestrian crashes were the most common type of distracted driving FSI crashes in 2022 making up 23.9 percent, followed by rear end (23.3 percent) and hit object crashes (16.2 percent.)
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Broadside crashes followed by head-on crashes made up the fourth and fifth most common type of distracted driving FSI crashes in 2022 accounting for 14.9 and 11.3 percent respectively.
Time and Day of Distracted Driving Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes
Time and Day of Fatal Distracted Driving Crashes in California in 2022
Data source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) ARF 2022
Summary
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The peak period of all distracted driving fatal crashes in 2022 was Saturday afternoon, between 3 pm and 6pm.
- 16.5 percent of all distracted driving fatal crashes in 2022 occurred between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Time and Day of Serious Injury Distracted Driving Crashes in California in 2022
Data source: Provisional Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) 2022
Summary
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The peak period of all distracted driving serious injury crashes in 2022 was Thursday afternoon, between 3 pm and 6 pm.
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34.6 percent of all distracted driving serious injury crashes in 2022 occurred between 3pm and 9pm.