Your Phone Already Has a Driving Mode. Why Do So Few Drivers Use It?
In 2024, 404 fatal US crashes were reported as involving a driver’s cellphone use, according to NHTSA’s April 2026 research note. That was 14% of distraction-affected fatal crashes, and police reports likely undercount phone involvement. NHTSA’s roadside observations add a snapshot. At any moment in daylight, more than 537,000 US drivers are visibly manipulating a…