Distracted driving causes more crashes in NC than speed & alcohol combined
WRAL Investigates learned that distracted driving is the cause of more crashes in North Carolina than speed and alcohol combined.
Posted — UpdatedMay is tied for the deadliest month on North Carolina's roads, according to the latest numbers provided by the state's Division of Motor Vehicles. In particular, distracted driving is behind tens of thousands of crashes on N.C. roads annually.
It's something most drivers have noticed when they're behind the wheel.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers have noticed the issue, too.
"I think people really don't hide it," said Sgt. Chris Knox.
The WRAL Investigates team rode along with Knox as he looked out for drivers distracted by their phones, or something else.
"A lot of times we’ve seen in the last few years that someone you might initially believe could be impaired is somebody who is actually distracted," he said. "They’re displaying a lot of the same characteristics."
Data from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) shows distracted driving was one of the leading causes of crashes in 2022, the most recent year for which it published numbers. It was linked to roughly one in six crashes statewide, attributed more often than speed and alcohol combined.
Looking specifically at crashes involving teens, "distracted driving" was cited as the cause of nearly 9,000 crashes in 2022.
"It really relies a lot on the driver," he said. "What you’re able to prove and what they’re willing to tell you."
Current state law bans all cell phone use, with few exceptions, for drivers under 18.
Law enforcement said that makes the law difficult to enforce, as it's hard to determine what a driver was doing on their device. Some state lawmakers are hoping to change that in the upcoming legislative session.
"We’re in the process of getting our legislation filed for the short session," explained state Senator Mike Woodard, a Democrat representing Durham. "It just makes sense to make our roads safer."
More than 30 other states already have hands-free laws, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Previous legislation in N.C. has failed, but Woodard said he remains hopeful.
"This isn't a partisan issue at all," he said.
For parents, Knox said it's important to model the driving behavior we want them to emulate.
"I know for me as a parent, setting that example is big for me," he said. "That he sees that I prioritize driving over a cell phone. I think those are small steps we can take as drivers and as parents."
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