Distracted driving: Texting behind the wheel continues to plague Virginia roads

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes, serious injuries and fatalities on the roads in Virginia.

Many drivers in the Commonwealth actually admit to engaging in the practice while acknowledging the extreme dangers associated with it. A poll conducted by DRIVE SMART Virginia found that 66 percent of Virginians admitted to driving distracted recently. At the same time, 83 percent consider smartphone use while driving without hands-free mode to be extremely or very dangerous.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Virginia State Police (VSP) and DRIVE SMART Virginia encourage motorists to keep their heads up and eyes on the road. In too many cases, motorists are engaging with their smartphone, eating or drinking, or simply not paying attention on the road, which can lead to tragic consequences.

“Distracted driving is far too common these days, and it puts drivers and others on Virginia’s roadways at serious risk. Taking your eyes off the road to check your email or send a text message — even for a second — creates a dangerous environment. Everyone can do their part by staying focused when behind the wheel,” VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich said.

In 2024, 18,688 crashes, 73 fatalities and 10,222 injuries were attributed to a distracted driver in Virginia. The top distraction: drivers taking their eyes off the road.

Cell phone use, such as texting while driving, continues to be one of the leading factors, and is one of the most visible unsafe driving behaviors. Increasingly, more individuals use their smartphone for directions, which can take attention away from the road. In 2024, distraction related to cellphone use rose 3 percent from 2023.

“The heartbreaking thing about the statistics we see on distracted driving is that the problem is worse than the numbers show. Distracted driving incidents are hard to report and confirm, so the lives we lost as a result of distracted driving and the crashes we attribute to distracted driving, may just be the tip of the iceberg. Please, put your phone down and keep your eyes on the road,” DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative, said.

Since 2021, Virginia law has prohibited drivers from holding cell phones or any other wireless communication devices while driving. Drivers can make and receive phone calls if they are able to do so without holding the device, by using technology such as Bluetooth. Violation of the law is punishable by fines. Drivers are encouraged to turn on the Do Not Disturb feature on their phone to mute calls, notifications and other alerts to reduce phone distractions while driving.

“When you are driving, your number one and only focus should be on the road,” said Colonel Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. “The law requires you to put the phone down and keep your eyes on the road. One quick glance at a text can end a life.”

Kristin Pettway, Executive Director of DRIVE SMART Virginia, said that every moment distracted behind the wheel is a risk that drivers take. They risk their lives and the lives of everyone around them.

“We must pledge to stay focused on the road, because a single lapse in attention can have irreversible consequences. Let’s all commit to driving safely, staying alert and ultimately saving lives,” Pettway said.