RICHMOND—Whether it’s checking text messages or adjusting dashboard screens, daily distractions continue to be a major cause of traffic accidents, where even a momentary loss of focus can result in tragedy.
This April represents Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a national campaign encouraging drivers to eliminate dangerous habits and pledge to drive more safely. During this period, transportation safety experts are stressing that just one moment of lost concentration can lead to tragic and permanent outcomes.
Any behavior that takes a driver’s focus away from operating their vehicle counts as distracted driving, including sending messages, making phone calls, consuming food, putting on cosmetics, engaging with passengers, and operating a car’s GPS or entertainment features.
“We’d like drivers to use this month as an opportunity to identify their bad driving habits and correct them,” said Rich Jacobs, senior communications manager for Drive Smart Virginia, of which Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. is a founding member.
Across the United States, 3,275 individuals lost their lives in car accidents caused by distracted drivers during 2023. Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles documented 20,758 crashes involving distracted driving in 2024, which caused 11,256 injuries and claimed 90 lives.
Virginia’s most frequent causes of distraction-related accidents involve drivers looking away from traffic, mobile phone usage and messaging, and “rubbernecking” or staring at accidents and roadside events.
Despite Virginia’s ban on handheld cellphone use while driving, the issue continues to grow. VDOT statistics show mobile device-related distractions rose 3% between 2023 and 2024—highlighting how widespread phone use remains among drivers.
Traffic safety experts say false beliefs also worsen the situation.
“Multitasking is the biggest myth,” Jacobs noted. “Driving requires your full attention.”
While many people think they excel at juggling multiple activities, scientific studies demonstrate that human brains cannot process several demanding tasks at once. Rather, the brain alternates between different activities, which decreases concentration and delays response times.
Even though mobile devices and cars now feature voice-activated technology, these systems present their own dangers. Research conducted at the University of Utah discovered that drivers need up to 27 seconds to completely regain focus after using voice controls.
Another widespread assumption is that younger drivers are primarily responsible for distracted driving incidents. However, AAA research indicates that seasoned and elderly drivers are more susceptible to distractions from vehicle entertainment systems—requiring more time to operate these features and reacting more slowly to traffic situations.
Transportation authorities suggest implementing basic measures to minimize distracted driving, including activating phones’ Do Not Disturb mode, programming GPS and music selections before departure, and only handling calls or texts after safely stopping—never while stopped at traffic signals.
Adults and parents should also demonstrate proper driving behavior for new drivers, who frequently copy observed actions.
“Put the phone away and wear your seatbelt,” Jacobs added. “A seatbelt is your best defense against a distracted driver.”
Media: Contact Jacobs at 804-929-2988.
