Texas has one of nation’s highest distracted driving death rate

(NEXSTAR) – Whereas driving deaths went down in 2020 – which is sensible contemplating we had been caught at house for a lot of the 12 months – there was one class of harmful driving that truly rose: distracted driving.

Although folks had been driving much less, an evaluation by MoneyGeek discovered a 12% improve in fatalities attributed to distracted driving. In response to the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA), 3,142 folks had been killed in crashes brought on by distracted driving in 2020.

The NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any exercise that diverts consideration” whereas behind the wheel. That features consuming, speaking and messing along with your GPS. However the group says texting and driving is essentially the most “alarming” type of distracted driving as a result of it takes your eyes off the highway for a number of seconds at a time.

“Sending or studying a textual content takes your eyes off the highway for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the size of a whole soccer subject along with your eyes closed,” explains the NHTSA.

MoneyGeek analyzed NHTSA’s information on distracted driving to search out out which states have the largest downside with it. In addition they checked out freeway utilization information from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to find out how a lot distracted driving is occurring per mile pushed in order that the largest states don’t simply find yourself in all the highest spots.

Texas checks in at No. 13 with 1.2 deaths per billion miles pushed, the examine discovered.

MoneyGeek discovered these states had the best distracted driving fatality charges:

1. New Mexico
2. Lousiana
3. Kansas
4. Kentucky
5. Hawaii
6. Washington
7. Wyoming
8. Illinois
9. New Jersey
10. Idaho
11. Virginia
12. Oklahoma
13. Texas
14. Florida
15. Arizona

One of the best locations for distracted driving, with the fewest associated fatalities, had been:

1. Rhode Island
2. Mississippi
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Nevada
5. Connecticut
6. California
7. Georgia
8. West Virginia
9. South Dakota
10. Utah
11. Wisconsin
12. Indiana
13. Minnesota
14. Iowa
15. Massachusetts

Rhode Island, which tops the listing of greatest states, noticed simply 4 deaths associated to distracted driving in 2020. In the meantime, New Mexico noticed 276 associated deaths.

You possibly can see the place your state ranks on MoneyGeek’s full evaluation.