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Eyes on the Road. Let's End Distracted Driving.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, so Selective is reminding people to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Distracted driving is more than just using a mobile phone – it’s anything that diverts a driver’s attention, including eating, applying makeup, or changing the radio station. Every time you’re a passenger, be the voice of change and remind the driver to just drive. Set the example when you’re the driver and don’t drive distracted.

SELECTIVE & HARRIS POLL STUDY FINDS 81% OF U.S. ADULTS are concerned about distracted driving impacting their safety on the road today

In March 2021, Selective commissioned a study, conducted by The Harris Poll, which polled 2,045 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,792 are licensed drivers, below are some of the findings of that survey.1 Overwhelmingly U.S. drivers drive distracted, and behaviors need to change for the safety of all.

Distracted Driving is a Serious Issue

Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. drivers (87%) have engaged in various distracted driving behaviors while operating a vehicle for personal reasons in the past 90 days. The most frequent distracted driving behaviors drivers have done when driving for personal reasons in the past 90 days are talking to a passenger and drinking beverages (57% each). Following are managing their music/entertainment system (49%), talking on a mobile device (hands free) (44%) and eating food (44%).

Hands On The Wheel Doesn’t Mean You're Focused On The Road

3 in 4 U.S. drivers who have talked hands-free on a mobile device while driving in the past 90 days (75%) don’t consider this to be a distracted driving behavior. Interestingly, the slight majority of drivers who have engaged in texting, reaching for something, or talking on a mobile device (not hands-free) while driving in the past 90 days have done so even though they consider these actions to be distracted driving (68%, 66%, 59%, respectively).

Employees Are Still Driving Distracted

Those who drive for work are more likely to have driven distractedly when driving for personal reasons (97%) than when driving for work-related purposes (93%) in the past 90 days. Those who drive for work are more likely to have engaged in the following behaviors when driving for personal reasons in the past 90 days, than when driving for work-related purposes:

  • Ate food (52% vs. 41%)
  • Drank a beverage (56% vs. 49%)
  • Managed a music/entertainment system (49% vs. 36%)
  • Talked with a passenger (46% vs. 36%)

Parents Aren't Always Setting Good Examples

4 in 5 drivers who are parents of kids under 18 (80%) say they do not always drive distraction free when their children are in the vehicle with them.

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Distracted driving is a public safety crisis on our roadways and is one of the leading causes of car crashes in the United States. Unfortunately, concern about the dangers of distracted driving isn’t enough to curb the behaviors that are diverting U.S. drivers’ attention from the road. Anything that distracts the eyes, hands, or mind from the task at hand is considered a visual, mechanical, or cognitive distraction, and research shows that it can take multiple seconds to regain focus on the road after a distraction.

Brenda Hall, Executive Vice President, Commercial Lines Chief Operating Officer

April is Distracted Driving Awareness month, so Selective is reminding people to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road

Get Involved

Selective has partnered with EndDD.org to encourage others to be the change, be the voice, and help end distracted driving. We believe that education is the key to ending distracted driving, which is why Selective has donated to EndDD.org to deliver science-based presentations at schools, businesses, and conferences.

You Can Help End Distracted Driving
You Can Help End Distracted Driving

Eyes on the Road. Hands on the Wheel.

The solution to distracted driving is as simple as keeping your eyes on the road. Set a good example when you’re behind the wheel and speak up when you’re the passenger. Join Selective and EndDD.org to be the change, be the voice, and help end distracted driving.

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1This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Selective Insurance from March 16-18, 2021 among 2,045 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,792 are licensed drivers. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact [email protected].