Distracted Driving Campaigns Haven't Reduced Crashes or Insurance Rates

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says the promotion of anti-distracted-driving campaigns and the widespread prohibition of handheld-phone use behind the wheel has not effected typical vehicle crash patterns. Although the bans reduce phone use behind the wheel, drivers seem to be finding other distractions. The president of the IIHS, Adrian Lund, said, “Reducing crashes and saving lives is what highway safety is all about … and by this essential measure the benefits of hand-held cell phone bans are nil.” The IIHS says that "for crash rates, and eventually insurance rates, to be reduced, there need to be major developments in and implementation of new crash avoidance features. Until then, the insurance campaigns and bans may make a dent in phone usage but perhaps will not have much of an effect on crash rates." Read more.