Mobile Apps and Distracted Driving: A Growing Threat on American Roads

Mobile phone use is now a factor in nearly 30 percent of all traffic deaths in the U.S., and the numbers are not heading in the right direction. While there has been a slight drop in traffic fatalities since 2021, the reality is still grim. In 2023, more than 40,990 lives were lost in crashes, and over 360,000 people were injured in traffic-related accidents.

What’s especially troubling is that many of these crashes were caused by something as avoidable as using mobile apps while driving. From scrolling through social media to watching videos or placing fast food orders, drivers are more distracted than ever.

At Foster Wallace, we believe that raising awareness about these habits is the first step in making the roads safer. We’ve analyzed the latest data to better understand which apps are distracting drivers the most, and what can be done to help prevent future tragedies.

The Real Risks of Using Apps While Driving

Distracted driving can have instant and devastating consequences. Research shows that 34 percent of crashes happen within one minute of a driver being distracted. And even after putting the phone down, a driver’s full focus does not return right away. On average, it takes about 27 seconds to mentally re-engage. That’s enough time to travel nearly a third of a mile at highway speeds without truly paying attention.

At any given moment, roughly 326,000 drivers are holding phones to their ears while behind the wheel, which increases both cognitive and manual distraction. All of this adds up to a serious and preventable danger on the road.

Which Apps Are Drivers Using the Most?

Our research highlights a troubling trend. Many drivers aren’t just texting or answering calls. They’re actively using a wide range of mobile apps while driving:

• Social media: About 57 percent of drivers admit to using Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp while driving.

• Shopping apps: 47 percent browse Amazon, Afterpay, and similar platforms.

• Email and web apps: 42 percent check Gmail or browse the web.

• Food and restaurant apps: 41 percent use apps like McDonald’s or Domino’s while driving.

• Entertainment: 40 percent watch videos on platforms like YouTube and Disney+.

Other frequently used apps include TikTok and even the phone’s camera, which require full visual and mental attention and put everyone on the road at greater risk.

Who Is Using Their Phone Behind the Wheel?

The data also reveals some clear patterns based on age, gender, and location:

• Drivers aged 16 to 24 are the most likely to talk on their phone while driving, with 2.7 percent reporting this behavior. They also have the highest rate of visibly manipulating their phones at 7.7 percent.

• Women are more likely than men to use a phone while driving, with usage rates of 3.4 percent compared to 2.8 percent.

• Drivers in the Northeast report the highest rate of distracted driving at 3.7 percent, followed by the South at 3.0 percent, the West at 2.9 percent, and the Midwest at 2.7 percent.

• Android users are slightly more likely than iPhone users to use apps while driving, at 78 percent versus 72 percent.

Even among older age groups, phone use is still common. Among drivers aged 25 to 69, 2.2 percent report talking on the phone while driving, and 0.7 percent of drivers over age 70 do the same.

Perhaps most alarming, 464,000 drivers are observed at any given time actively manipulating their phones. That means they’re tapping, swiping, or typing while moving in traffic.

What’s Being Done to Help?

Technology is offering some promising tools to fight back against distracted driving. Several apps and features are designed to reduce temptations while driving:

• Drive Smart: Silences notifications and sends calls to voicemail during trips.

• On My Way: Pays drivers for staying off their phones while on the road.

• LifeSaver: Locks phone functions when it detects the user is driving.

In addition, 48 states have banned texting while driving, and 25 states have laws prohibiting talking on a handheld phone. These policies aim to curb phone-related distractions and reduce the number of avoidable crashes.

We’ve seen firsthand how devastating distracted driving can be. Every year, thousands of lives are lost in crashes that didn’t need to happen. The fact that more than a third of these accidents happen within a minute of distraction shows just how quickly things can go wrong.

Apps like Drive Smart and LifeSaver offer helpful tools, but real change comes from personal responsibility. Putting the phone away, even for a short drive, can mean the difference between getting home safely or becoming part of another tragic statistic.

We stand with accident victims and support stronger laws and smarter choices. Distracted driving is one of the most preventable causes of traffic fatalities. No app, notification, or message is worth a life.

Let’s keep our eyes on the road, our hands on the wheel, and our focus where it belongs.