A Verra Mobility Study Reveals 85% of Americans believe distracted driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving

PR Newswire

Thu, Apr 3, 2025, 7:00 AM 4 min read

Timed with Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the survey found two-thirds of Americans self-reported that they have not driven distracted in the past year, yet 89% witness speeding and reckless driving behavior weekly
More than 75% of Americans support automated technology to keep school children safer

MESA, Ariz., April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, released results from a survey of 2,000 Americans aged 18+ who drive multiple times per week. In support of Distracted Driving Awareness Month (April), the survey looked at Americans' perceptions of driving behaviors, including distracted driving, finding that 85% of Americans believe distracted driving is equal to or more dangerous than drinking and driving.

85% of Americans think distracted driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving, according to Verra Mobility's survey.

According to the research, Americans are witnessing dangerous driving behaviors regularly:

89% witness speeding at least a couple times a week
67% witness red light running at least once a month
65% witness a driver using their phone behind the wheel at least a couple times a week
60% have witnessed speeding in a school zone

The survey also found 63% of Americans feel the average driver has gotten worse in recent years, and 78% think drivers in their state are reckless. Distracted driving remains a serious problem for American roadways, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reporting that in 2024 alone, distracted driving was the cause of over 3,000 deaths and over 400,000 injuries nationwide.

While drivers reported witnessing reckless driving on a daily basis, when asked to self-report their own behavior the numbers were surprising. 65% of respondents reported that they have 'never' driven distracted in the past year. These results were followed up with more insights:

74% claimed they had not used their phone while driving in the last year
49% reported they typically drove the speed limit, and an additional 45% said they typically drove 5-10 miles over the speed limit
85% said they had never exceeded the speed limit in a school zone

These numbers are in stark contrast to other driving behavior studies.

For example, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 87% of drivers engage in unsafe behaviors behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives in the U.S. in 2022. According to data from the National Safety Council, an average of nine lives are lost each day due to distracted driving.

"The biggest takeaway from this survey is that Americans understand and recognize the dangers of distracted driving but may not be so inclined to recognize it in their own driving behaviors," said Jon Baldwin, executive vice president of Government Solutions at Verra Mobility. "I believe that the average American is a good driver and cares about safety on the roads. However, being self-aware is key to making our roads safer so that everyone takes responsibility for their own driving behavior. Fortunately, we found a majority of Americans support a critical tool to help change these unsafe behaviors - automated photo enforcement."

When surveyors were asked about their opinions of technology-enabled safety programs that improve driving behavior, a majority of Americans (59% of respondents) are in support of automated enforcement. Where the support becomes really apparent is when it comes to children - 77% support these programs for school zones and 96% support them for school buses.

"Americans supporting automated enforcement is comforting to know as this helps uphold our state laws while also freeing up law enforcement to focus on other key matters," said Baldwin. "The fact that an overwhelming majority support this to uphold safety measures for our children is something we all should be proud of."

Verra Mobility's Government Solutions business provides automated photo enforcement solutions for speeding in work zones, school zones and other safety zones, red light running, and illegal passing of school buses. These programs are demonstrated to be highly effective in reducing reckless and distracted driving.

To learn more about Verra Mobility and its support for safer roads and communities, visit www.verramobility.com/government.

Survey Methodology

The data was derived from a survey by Verra Mobility conducted online via Pollfish on March 3, 2025. 2,000 Americans aged 18+ who reported to drive at least a few times a week completed the survey. All decimals in this report are rounded to the nearest percentage point, which may lead to certain numerical totals adding up to slightly more or less than 100%.

About Verra Mobility

Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions that make transportation safer, smarter and more connected. The company sits at the center of the mobility ecosystem, bringing together vehicles, hardware, software, data and people to enable safe, efficient solutions for customers globally. Verra Mobility's transportation safety systems and parking management solutions protect lives, improve urban and motorway mobility and support healthier communities. The company also solves complex payment, utilization and compliance challenges for fleet owners and rental car companies. Headquartered in Arizona, Verra Mobility operates in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.