Report

Main factor in distracted driving deaths not phones, it's getting lost in thought

It turns out electronic devices aren't the leading cause of distracted driving car crashes. Around 10 percent of all accidents that cause a death involve distracted driving, and Bloomberg reports that an Erie Insurance Group study has found that daydreaming and being lost in thought are responsible for 62 percent of those crashes. Mobile phone use, meanwhile, accounted for just 12 percent of those accidents. The study used police reports for its data, and as such, the numbers could greatly underestimate the role distracted driving plays in serious incidents.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, it requires some 20 complex decisions to stay on course for every mile you drive. The group recommends drivers be aware of when their not paying attention to the road and do what they can to minimize those moments.

Other distractions include rubbernecking, other passengers and pets roaming around the cabin.

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