Cell Phone Use Identified as Main Cause of Distracted Driving Accidents

NAMIC continues to educate lawmakers on the rising cost of auto ownership, a key culprit being the escalating number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities caused by distracted driving. A Jan. 22 report from the Insurance Information Institute also found that cellphone use is the primary cause of inattentive driving in the U.S.

The financial pressure on auto insurers is staggering, as U.S. personal auto combined ratios rose to 112.2 in 2022. However, this same report showed 45 percent of drivers made significant safety-related changes in their driving after participating in a telematics program. This further makes the case that access to safety-related auto data is crucial, and consumers should be informed about their driving patterns.

NAMIC will use this report, among others, to continue informing members of Congress about why auto insurance premiums are rising to help them understand the full scope of the cost environment on owning a vehicle.