National Distracted Driving Month: Urging Congress to Act
Every April, National Distracted Driving Month serves as a critical reminder of the urgent need to address the dangers of distracted driving and to push for stronger actions to save lives on our roads.
Distracted driving kills 10,000 Americans annually. It's time to act.
Even small changes that can make a huge impact – saving thousands of lives and preventing hundreds of thousands of avoidable injuries.
New vehicles are frequently described as 'computers on wheels’. Although intended to enhance the driving experience, they can also create significant distractions for drivers.
An Action Plan for Safer Roads
State Farm encourages Congress and federal agencies to take the following steps to make our roads safer:
Pass H.R. 3360 (Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2025)
This bipartisan legislation directs DoT to study the specific effects of driver-controlled technology, including touch screen-based systems, on severe traffic injuries. It will give Congress and NHTSA the data they need to develop new safety standards for modern vehicle interfaces.
Incentivize States to Innovate on Safety
Through the 2026 Surface Transportation Act, fund proven incentive grant programs such as the Section 405 program that provide grant funding to address selected national priorities for reducing highway deaths and injuries, including distracted driving incentive grants (Section 405(e)).
Uphold Established Safety Standards
Oppose efforts to weaken well-established public safety measures through legislative riders that would erode current protections.
Americans Demand Action
A new study from State Farm® found that distracted driving is the top roadway safety concern among U.S. licensed drivers ages 18 to 75.
Of the 1,901 drivers surveyed:
Cell phones are only one of many distractions drivers face.
Another growing concern is in-vehicle infotainment systems and interactive displays. Many newer vehicles feature touchscreens that let drivers control music, navigation, vehicle settings, and information such as weather and traffic alerts. Nearly 70% of survey respondents said these technologies distract drivers.
Sources
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.
Olson, R.L., Hanowski, R.J., Hickman, J.S., & Bocanegra, J. (2009). Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations. Washington, DC: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, USDOT. Report No. FMCSA-RRR-09-042.
State Farm. (2026). National Survey on Distracted Driving Behaviors & Countermeasures. Bloomington, IL.