How Common is Distracted Driving in U.S. vs. Europe?

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on March 29, 2013

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that distracted driving is more widespread in the United States than in Europe. According to the CDC, nearly 69 percent of U.S. motorists have admitted to talking on a cell phone while driving in the past month. The number of distracted European drivers, however, was as low as 21 percent in the United Kingdom and 59 percent in Portugal. Portugal, with 31 percent, is also the only European country in the study to match the number of U.S. drivers who have read, sent a text, or an email while driving. Spain, in comparison, only had 15 percent of drivers who have texted or emailed in the past 30 days while driving.

The reported 69 percent of U.S. drivers who have recently used a cell phone while operating a vehicle is consistent with previous studies. The AAA Foundation reported that about 69 percent of drivers in the U.S. used a cell phone while driving in the year 2010.

Distracted driving is a serious problem in the United States that is not going away. According to The Pew Research Center, 40 percent of all American teens say they have been in a car when a driver has used a phone and put the occupants in danger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 18 percent of injury crashes in the year 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.

If a distracted driver has hurt you or a loved one, you may pursue support for your losses from the at-fault driver. A Seattle distracted driver car accident attorney at Hardwick Pendergast, P.S. can help you secure support for your medical bills, lost wages, suffering and other related damages.