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Root Insurance shares results of distracted driving study

On Behalf of | Apr 29, 2019 | Car Accidents |

Root Insurance, an auto insurer that provides discounts to drivers who avoid phone use, has recently shared the results of a distracted driving study. Conducted by Wakefield Research, the online study brought together the responses of nearly 2,000 drivers in West Virginia and the rest of the U.S. These responses say a lot about distracted driving trends today.

First of all, ignorance does not seem to be a major factor. Nearly half marked distracted driving as their top concern when behind the wheel, and 99 percent were aware of how prominent and widespread phone use is among drivers. Eighty-nine percent were critical of ride-hailing employees who text and drive, and 39 percent have even given bad ratings to such drivers. Ninety percent regarded themselves as better drivers than ride-hailing drivers.

At the same time, respondents admitted to using their phones for an average of 13 minutes per day behind the wheel. Nearly two in five respondents said that they do not put their phones down when they see law enforcement around.

The three most common phone-related distractions were group chats, social media and video streaming. Fifty-two, 33 and 18 percent of respondents admitted to these activities. Group chats included text and email chains with multiple people, and social media even covered things like newsfeeds and memes.

Whatever it is that distracts drivers, they will be to blame for any accidents they cause. In this state, accident victims can file an insurance claim against the other driver as long as they are deemed less than 50 percent at fault. Of course, any percentage of fault will lower the amount they are eligible for, so victims may want a lawyer to help them achieve the maximum possible settlement. If negotiations fail, victims might ask their lawyer if it is a good idea to litigate.