With mobile phone use contributing to 29% of all traffic fatalities, the dangers of distracted driving are more pressing than ever. Despite a slight decline in roadway deaths since 2021, 40,990 lives were lost in 2023, and more than 360,000 people suffered injuries in traffic accidents.
What’s even more concerning is that many of these crashes were caused by drivers using mobile apps behind the wheel—from social media to shopping and even streaming platforms.
At Foster Wallace, we are committed to raising awareness about the growing risks of mobile app usage while driving. By analyzing key data, we aim to highlight the most commonly used apps behind the wheel and emphasize the urgent need for safer driving habits and stronger preventative measures.
The Hidden Dangers of App Usage While Driving
Distracted driving is a widespread issue with immediate and severe consequences. Data shows that 34% of crashes occur within just one minute of a driver being distracted. In addition to app usage, an estimated 326,000 drivers are holding their phones to their ears while driving, increasing the risk of accidents due to cognitive and manual distractions. Even after putting their phone down, a driver’s full attention does not return for an average of 27 seconds.
At 60 mph, this means a driver could travel a third of a mile completely unfocused, making even a short glance at a screen potentially deadly.
Which Apps Are Drivers Using Behind the Wheel?
Through our analysis, we’ve identified the most commonly used apps while driving. The data shows that mobile distractions are not just about texting—drivers are actively engaging with a variety of applications that divert their focus from the road:
- Social media apps: 57% of drivers admit to using Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger while driving.
- Shopping apps: 47% of drivers browse apps like Amazon and Afterpay while behind the wheel.
- Productivity apps: 42% of drivers check emails or use web browsers such as Gmail and Chrome while driving.
- Food delivery & fast food apps: 41% of drivers engage with apps like Domino’s and McDonald’s while on the road.
- Entertainment apps: 40% of drivers report watching videos on YouTube, Disney+, and similar platforms while driving.
Other commonly used apps include TikTok and the phone’s camera app, which require direct visual engagement and significantly increase accident risks.
Who Is Most Likely to Use Apps While Driving?
Our review of the data also uncovered key demographic trends:
- Young drivers (16–24 years old) are the most likely to talk on their phones while driving (2.7%) and have the highest rate of visibly manipulating their phones (7.7%).
- Women are more likely than men to use their phones while driving (3.4% vs. 2.8%).
- Drivers in the Northeast have the highest rate of distracted driving (3.7%), followed by the South (3.0%), the West (2.9%), and the Midwest (2.7%).
- Android users (78%) are more likely than iPhone users (72%) to access apps while driving.
While young drivers lead in talking on the phone while driving, the behavior is also present among older age groups, with 2.2% of drivers aged 25–69 and 0.7% of drivers aged 70+ engaging in this habit
- 16–24 years old: 2.7%
- 25–69 years old: 2.2%
- 70+ years old: 0.7%
Even more concerning, 464,000 drivers are visibly manipulating their phones while driving, meaning they are actively engaging with screens instead of focusing on the road.
Efforts to Reduce Distracted Driving
As distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of roadway fatalities, several technological and legal measures aim to curb phone usage behind the wheel:
- Drive Smart: Sends calls to voicemail and silences notifications while driving
- On My Way: Pays drivers to keep their phones off while on the road
- LifeSaver: Completely locks a phone when it detects a driver in motion
To combat the growing issue of phone-related distractions, 48 states have banned texting while driving, and 25 states have prohibited talking on the phone while driving altogether. These laws aim to reduce the risks associated with mobile phone use behind the wheel.
Distracted Driving: A Deadly Habit That Must End
At Foster Wallace, we have seen the devastating consequences of distracted driving firsthand. With social media, shopping, and entertainment apps diverting attention from the road, thousands of lives are lost each year due to preventable accidents. The fact that 34% of crashes occur within just one minute of distraction highlights how critical it is for drivers to stay focused at all times.
While apps like Drive Smart, On My Way, and LifeSaver offer potential solutions, real change starts with the decisions each driver makes. Choosing to put the phone away while behind the wheel could mean the difference between arriving safely or becoming another statistic.
As advocates for accident victims, we stand with those affected by distracted driving and support efforts to promote safer driving habits and stronger accountability. It’s time to take this issue seriously—because no text, notification, or app is worth a life.
