Survey: The 10 Most Common Distractions While Driving

Distractions while driving go far beyond just using a phone. It’s often small, seemingly harmless, routine actions that we consider safe that distract us the most from the road.

This is what a new survey by Mercury Insurance in the United States reveals. The survey was conducted among 2,500 American drivers and examined their various driving behaviors over the past 12 months. It’s safe to assume that the results would be quite similar in Canada.

The 10 most commonly reported distractions

1. Drinking while driving (79%)
2. Adjusting the navigation or a map on a phone (69%)
3. Reaching for an object inside the vehicle (69%)
4. Answering a call using hands-free (66%)
5. Eating while driving (61%)
6. Reading a text message or notification (59%)
7. Getting lost in thought instead of focusing on the road (55%)
8. Looking to the sides instead of at the traffic ahead (54%)
9. Changing the music on a phone without using the steering wheel buttons (46%)
10. Looking at houses or scenery longer than intended (45%)

The 10 least frequently reported distractions

1. Shopping online or browsing products (6%)
2. Watching short videos (10%)
3. Checking social media (13%)
4. Showing a passenger something on their phone (14%)
5. Turning around to talk to passengers (15%)
6. Applying makeup or grooming (16%)
7. Checking emails (17%)
8. Completing an online order (21%)
9. Taking one’s eyes off the road to respond to a passenger (23%)
10. Looking at signs or posters longer than intended (25%)

On average, American drivers admit to having engaged in 10 distracting behaviors while driving over the past year. Only 8% of survey respondents said they had not engaged in any of the 27 distractions listed.

An even more concerning finding is this: 69% of respondents who admitted to engaging in 20 or more distracting behaviors still consider themselves more attentive drivers than other motorists. In other words, many people admit to being distracted behind the wheel from time to time, but these behaviors have become so ingrained that they no longer really perceive them as a danger to themselves or others.

In addition, 68% of drivers say they are confident in their ability to multitask while driving, while only 24% say they are not.

In Quebec…

Closer to home, a 2021 survey conducted by CAA-Québec revealed that about 8 out of 10 drivers (79%) get distracted while driving. Among the most dangerous distractions are cell phones, in-car entertainment systems, and voice-activated systems.

Four years earlier, in 2017, distracted driving became the leading cause of death in the province for the first time, according to the annual report from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

As for cell phone use, drivers who violate the law face a fine ranging from $300 to $600 plus fees, as well as five demerit points on their record.