Last Updated: October 25, 2026

The National Safety Council’s April 2, 2026 release says that in 2024, over 3,000 people died in distraction-affected crashes, about nine a day, according to NHTSA. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The National Safety Council marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month each April. Its April 2, 2026 release says that in 2024, over 3,000 people died in distraction-affected crashes, about nine a day, according to NHTSA (National Safety Council). The release says no standardized method reliably captures distraction as a contributing factor, so the count may be higher.

The Risk Institute contributed to Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April 2019 by coordinating a nationwide effort among dozens of public and private organizations to study research about distracted driving. The executive director of the institute called distracted driving an epidemic, and he hopes to initiate research-based solutions that alleviate the danger.

Research on driver behavior identified high levels of confidence as a factor that contributes to risky behavior like distracted driving. On November 19, 2018, the Risk Institute described a study by Zhenhua Chen and Youngbin Lym (Risk Institute). In that account, Ohio distracted-driver fatalities rose 35 percent and serious injuries rose 23 percent from 2003 through 2013. Roadway length and the number of lanes had an impact on how often these crashes occurred. Roads with a median, or with a shoulder paved in asphalt, had fewer of them.

If an accident investigation reveals that a driver was using a phone or doing something else in a vehicle, then an injured person might pursue damages on the basis of driver negligence. Someone coping with serious injuries, however, might feel overwhelmed when trying to collect evidence or negotiate with a hostile insurance company. An attorney could aid a person in this position and manage the details of a personal injury claim. With legal representation, a person could gain a better understanding of rights to compensation instead of accepting an insurance adjuster’s opinion. An attorney could also manage litigation if a lawsuit becomes necessary to hold a responsible party accountable for lost pay and medical expenses.

Need a lawyer? This article discusses personal injury and car accidents. See the personal injury and car accident pages. Call Parker & Parker at 309-673-0069 for a free consultation.

Safety advocates raise awareness about distracted driving dangers

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