Distracted driving, often associated with cell phone use, texting, or manipulating in-vehicle devices, has become recognized as one of the leading causes of motor-vehicle injuries and fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2011. Raising public awareness about the dangers of distracted driving plays a key role in changing driver behavior. UMTRI research on distracted driving focuses on identifying the causes of distraction and how these affect behavior. Investigators are also interested in distraction as it relates to using devices such as navigation systems or understanding vehicle displays and manipulating controls while driving.
UMTRI Distracted Driving Resources