What is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player

Because text messaging requires visual, manual and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.

In 2015, 3,477 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.

This video and information was provided as a public service by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.