AAA study: Distracted driving remains an issue. Here's what to know (The Patriot Ledger)

Distracted driving remains a problem, especially among young people, according to a new study from AAA.

New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that a smartphone’s Do Not Disturb (DND) feature, when activated, can be effective in reducing smartphone interactions when driving.

“Distracted driving killed over 3,200 people in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, although researchers believe that number is higher,” according to the AAA report.

The report added that despite having texting bans in almost all 50 states, “distraction remains a prevalent problem among drivers, especially younger generations.”

How many people have died in the U.S. from distracted driving?

AAA Northeast stated in a release that in 2022, 3,308 people were killed and 289,310 people were injured in U.S. traffic crashes involving a distracted driver, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“The number of fatal crashes involving distraction (3,047) accounted for 8% of all fatal traffic crashes (39,221) in 2022,” a release from AAA Northeast stated.

AAA study finds a lack of use of DND on phones while driving

• Smartphone technology-based countermeasures like the Do Not Disturb (DND) feature are not widely used by drivers, AAA stated in its report. Here are some reasons why:
• The findings show that some major misconceptions about how the technology works are behind drivers’ apprehension.
• Drivers cited limited access to music and navigation as reasons not to activate DND features. However, current smartphone-blocking features allow music and navigation to be used when activated.
• Other barriers mentioned by drivers included not realizing these features were available or forgetting to turn them on.
• People also worry that if DND features are activated, they may miss an important call or text while driving.

When are drivers inclined to use the DND feature?

AAA stated that many drivers favor DND features that automatically turn on during stressful situations like heavy rain, snow or traffic.

"This preference suggests that drivers are more inclined to use this feature to reduce distraction when there are greater demands on their attention," AAA stated in its report.

Learn more about distracted driving and why it remains an issue here.