There are many factors leading to distracted driving, but one factor was behind many accidents that claimed 3,275 lives in 2023.
We will discuss this disastrous factor and share tips to avoid it, and focus on driving only.
Statistics on distracted driving accidents and the main causes of them
When reviewing distracted driving statistics, we find that the primary and most common cause of distraction while driving is using a phone, particularly for texting.
Here are some statistics from different countries that show how dangerous it is to use a
Text driving statistics in the US
- In 2022, 3,308 people died in accidents caused by distracted driving.
- In 2023, 3,275 people lost their lives due to distracted driving.
- Also, 6.5% of drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 use mobile phones while driving.
These statistics for 2022 and 2023 indicate that deaths each year account for approximately 8% of total accident-related fatalities. Distracted driving due to mobile phones caused approximately 290,000 people to suffer serious brain and spinal cord injuries, which are long-term injuries that can also cause disability, and the deaths of 621 pedestrians and cyclists in 2022.
Text driving statistics in KSA
Saudi Arabia has compiled statistics and conducted opinion surveys on distracted driving caused by mobile phone use.
- 52% of violations involved using a mobile phone to make phone calls.
- Texting violations accounted for about 7%
In previous years, Al-Sharqiyah region was among the top areas for fatal traffic accidents. However, by the end of 2023, accidents had decreased by 60%, making it the region with the fewest serious accidents.
Economic losses resulting from distracted driving
The economic cost is proportional to the number of accidents. Accidents in the United States in 2019 cost US $98 billion, including human losses, resulting in reduced productivity and increased medical costs in cases of injury.
How to avoid distracted driving
Drivers and road safety officials can collaborate to prevent accidents caused by distracted driving and mobile phone use.
How can drivers avoid distracted driving?
Drivers must adhere to traffic rules and refrain from using their phones while driving, as well as from any other distractions. Some drivers believe that accidents and injuries won’t happen to them, but this is a common misconception.
Many drivers who think this way are aware of the dangers of using their phones while driving, with 93% of them acknowledging that this is true for both sending and reading text messages. But they fool themselves into thinking they’re better than others. Therefore, they need to be cautious, understand this, and make a conscious effort to focus solely on driving.
Fines imposed by officials on distracted drivers
Officials must increase fines in areas where accidents caused by distracted driving are common, which is what has already happened in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi traffic police consider the use of any mobile device while driving to be a clear traffic violation punishable by a fine of between 500 and 900 riyals.
Therefore, officials and drivers must cooperate, adhere to traffic rules, and focus on the road without being distracted by other things to achieve traffic safety.