State Farm, IIHS Host Social Media Influencers at Distracted Driving Event

Social media influencers put their skills to the test, learning about distracted driving and its dangerous impacts at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) facility in Ruckersville, Virginia on Nov. 20.

As part of its nationwide distracted driving initiative, State Farm® teamed up with IIHS to host an interactive event featuring presentations on common distractions; vehicle safety technology demonstrations; a crash test; and a controlled test-track activity. During the drive-through obstacle course, influencers experienced first-hand the risks of distracted driving.

In Fall 2025, a State Farm survey found that more than 65% of drivers believe it’s safe to look away from the road for two or more seconds, despite research showing that a two-second glance can double crash risk. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, distracted drivers cause 29% of all motor vehicle crashes, leading to over 10,000 fatalities, 1.3 million injuries, and 5.6 million damaged vehicles annually.

The survey also revealed common distracted behaviors behind the wheel:

• 45% manually enter location data
• 44% scroll through playlists or manually search for music
• 39% read or send text messages
• 34% manually dial cell phones
• 28% interact with phone apps
• 21% read or send emails

To connect the survey data to real-life scenarios, IIHS researchers explained the most frequent distractions and how vehicle technology such as automated braking systems in select, newer models can help reduce crash risk. However, driver behavior remains the most critical factor in preventing crashes caused by distraction.

The influencer event demonstrates one way State Farm is working to make roads safer nationwide. As a founding partner of IIHS, State Farm continues to advance safety standards and research through education, outreach, public policy, and technology to help more people in more ways.