FACTS

Consequences of accidents caused by distractions outside the vehicle:

1. When drivers slow down or come to a stop to observe accidents, incidents, or roadside scenes, collisions and multi-car pileups can occur.
2. If drivers become distracted by pedestrians or cyclists, this can result in accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists.
3. Being distracted by billboards, advertisements, or other external stimuli can lead to delayed reactions to changing traffic signals, sudden stops, or road hazards.
4.  Gazing at scenic views, wildlife, or other distractions outside the vehicle can cause drivers to inadvertently drift out of their lane, potentially leading to collisions.
5. Focusing on external distractions impairs the driver’s ability to make quick and informed decisions.
6. Drivers who are distracted by events or activities outside the vehicle might fail to yield the right of way at intersections, leading to accidents.
7. Distractions outside the vehicle can cause drivers to underestimate the distance to the vehicle in front, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions.
8. External noises can disrupt a driver’s concentration, leading to a lapse in attention.

STATS

• Road crashes are the leading cause of death in North America, resulting in more than 38,000 people losing their lives each year.
• Approximately 3,700 people die every day in road accidents worldwide, making a total of 1.35 million deaths a year.
• Distracted driving accidents account for 25% of car accident deaths.
• Distracted driving makes up more than 58% of teen crashes.
• Distracted driving resulted in 391,000 injuries in 2020.
• 9 people in the U.S. are killed daily from distracted driving, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. In Canada, 22.5% of fatal collisions are a result of distracted driving.
• 80% of car accidents are caused by a driver being distracted.