Distracted driving

For over 100 years, State Farm has worked to make roads safer for everyone. With recent advances in technology, distracted driving has become a leading contributor to crash deaths. It's also preventable. While the dangers continue to change, our responsibility remains the same: prevent crashes, reduce injuries, and save lives.

Texting, adjusting the GPS, picking a song. That glance down doubles your crash risk. Distracted driving happens in everyday moments:

  • drinking your morning coffee
  • eating your leftover lunch
  • posting an Instagram story
  • touching up your lipstick
  • checking on your kids in the backseat
  • using your electric razor 
  • rubbernecking an accident
  • watching your favorite show
  • daydreaming
  • nodding off
Femal driving a car

The facts

Distracted driving leads to
Over 10,000 deaths and 1.3 million injuries
each year.footnote 1

68% of drivers
admit to engaging in distracted behaviors while driving.footnote 2

44% of drivers
admit to crashing or having a near-crash while engaging in a distracting activity.footnote 3

62% of drivers
believe taking their eyes off the road for 2+ seconds is safe. However, a 2-second glance away from the road
doubles crash risk.footnote 4, footnote 5

1 in 3 crashes
occurs within one minute of a driver using their phone.footnote 6

Together, we’ll redefine drivetime

Distracted driving is a modern issue and requires a modern solution. Mindful driving saves lives. It’s that simple: Stay present and stay focused. This small change can make the difference between routing your day or rerouting your future. Add peace of mind to every journey.

Our Role

Re-frame your time on the road

Instead of racing from A to B, responding to every notification and thinking about the next step, turn off the noise. Mindful, distraction-free driving create a safe space that, in turn, makes safer roads and protects the ones you love in the communities you belong to. 

The research

We’ve worked hard to protect people on the road beyond insurance by leading car safety research efforts. Through a research-to-action approach, we’re using science-based data to measure driver behavior and study crash causes. This research helps to develop solutions that prevent distracted driving. We are partnered with several educational and government organizations in the distracted driving space for research, regulation and innovation.

Getting involved

Mindfulness in action

We can all play a part in ending distracted driving. Start today by taking action: know your laws, find your tools and refocus your drive.

Know your laws

Use these dedicated resources to analyze auto safety policies in your area.

Find your tools

Drive safe and save money

Refocus your drive

Embracing a safer drive

  • Be intentional before you start
    Adjust your seat, check your mirrors and make the temperature just right before you shift into drive. A quick 30 second check in can save countless lives down the line.
  • Make your car a no-multitasking zone

    Eating, doing your makeup, reaching into the backseat: Those second-long distractions add up. Save the multitasking for when you’re parked and give your full attention back to the road.
    • Vehicle features for distracted driving:
      • When shopping for a new vehicle, do your research on what specific features are available
      • Check out what features are available on your current vehicle and learn how to use them
      • Remember to only engage with your advanced tech while the car is in park
    • Avoid cellphone distractions while driving
      • Set your cellphone to Do Not Disturb while driving
  • Set your playlist before you go

    We’ve all been there, but scrolling for songs while the light turns green is dangerous. Make a habit of picking your song, podcast or audio book before you put the car in drive.
  • It can wait (really)

    Find a safe pull over spot to send that urgent text or time-sensitive email. If it’s not important enough to pull over for, it’s not important enough to do behind the wheel.
  • Check your mindset, too

    If you’re stressed, tired, overwhelmed or upset, that distraction comes with you. Take a deep breath, clear your head and make sure you’re ready to focus before you hit the road.

Sources:

return to reference 1. Blincoe, L., Miller, T., Wang, J.-S., Swedler, D., Coughlin, T., Lawrence, B., Guo, F., Klauer, S., & Dingus, T. (2023). The economic and societal impact of motor vehicle crashes, 2019 (Revised). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Report No. DOT HS 813 403. 

return to reference 2. State Farm. (2026). The Costs of Distracted Driving. Bloomington, IL.

return to reference 3. State Farm. (2026). Driver Survey on Distracted Driving. Bloomington, IL.

return to reference 4. State Farm. (2025). Distracted Driving: A Survey of Consumer Perspectives and Behaviors. Bloomington, IL.

return to reference 5. Klauer, S., Guo, F., Sudweeks, J., & Dingus, T. (2010). An Analysis of Driver Inattention Using a Case-Crossover Approach on 100-Car Data: Final Report. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, USDOT. Report No. DOT HS 811 334.

return to reference 6. Cambridge Mobile Telematics. (2023). The State of Distracted Driving in 2023 & the Future of Road Safety. Cambridge, MA.