Nobody is a good distracted driver
April marks National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the critical dangers of inattentiveness behind the wheel. Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reinforced this message through its nationwide ‘Put the Phone Away or Pay’ campaign, held from April 10 to 14, 2025.
This initiative focuses on drivers aged 18 to 34, a demographic disproportionately affected by distraction-related crashes. In 2023 alone, distracted driving was responsible for 3,275 deaths and approximately 325,000 injuries across the United States as reported by the NHTSA.
Understanding the risks: types of distractions
(defined by the CDC)
- Visual distractions: Taking your eyes off the road.
- Manual distractions: Removing your hands from the steering wheel.
- Cognitive distractions: Diverting your mind from driving tasks.
Using a mobile device while driving is especially dangerous because it involves all three types of distractions—visual, manual, and cognitive—at the same time. According to the CDC and National Safety Council this combination significantly increases the risk of a crash.
Safety Tips to Stay Focused
- Silence notifications: Activate “Do Not Disturb” mode while driving.
- Plan ahead: Set your GPS and select music or podcasts before starting your trip.
- Secure your phone: Place it in the glove compartment or back seat to avoid temptation.
- Lead by example: Encourage friends and family to adopt safe driving habits and if you see something, say something!
DCR promotes road safety
DCR has been collaborating with the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) on the SLOCOG Road to Zero. The goal: zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050.
Part of our efforts, was to create a communications toolkit for the SLOCOG Road to Zero. The toolkit unifies messaging and links to resources across local, state, and federal levels. Regional partners can use our toolkit in their own road safety messaging.
Specifically, some of our contributions included:
- Regional emphasis area icons inspired by the state of California official highway signs to visually represent safe and unsafe driving behaviors, making key messages more intuitive and accessible.
- Customizable templates and messaging guides to help local agencies deliver consistent and effective outreach.
- Engaging visuals for print and digital community campaigns, helping to raise awareness and drive behavior change.
It’s rewarding to see our design efforts contributing to initiatives that aim to reduce distracted driving incidents and improve road safety for all.
For more information on the “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign and resources to combat distracted driving, visit NHTSA’s official page.
Recent Distracted Driving Stats + Sources, references
Fatalities: In 2022, 3,308 people lost their lives in crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA
Injuries: Approximately 289,000 individuals were injured in distracted driving-related crashes in 2022. NHTSA
Economic Impact: Distracted driving crashes imposed an economic cost of $98.2 billion in 2019. Adjusted for inflation, this cost would be approximately $120.32 billion in 2024. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
High-Risk Demographics: Drivers aged 25 to 34 were involved in the highest number of fatal distracted driving crashes in 2020. Forbes
Teen Drivers: In 2020, 44% of distracted driving auto accidents involving a teenager resulted in a teenage fatality (ages 15–19). Forbes
Daily Impact: On average, nine people in the United States are killed every day in crashes reported to involve a distracted driver. CDC Sources: NHTSA
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For other related safety issues regarding gender bias, we have added some resources:
Vision Zero, Safe systems approach and NHTSA
