Avoiding Driver Distractions Distracted drivers are just as impaired as drunk drivers. It’s a fact.

The Studies show: Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers.

• Driver distraction is a factor in 8 out of 10 – about 4 million – car crashes in North America each year. 1
• Drivers talking on cellphones are in many cases just as impaired as drunk drivers. 2
• Experienced drivers are no better at handling the distraction of a cellphone than are novice drivers. 3

Not only is distracted driving potentially as dangerous as driving drunk; it is, in fact, much more common.

In 2006, an IBC-commissioned public opinion survey found that:

• 89% of Canadians were very or somewhat concerned about driver distraction; but
• 60% of drivers would not agree to stop using their cellphones while driving, despite being told that cellphone use made them four times more likely to be involved in a collision. 4