Shocking new data shows that distracted driving has become a public health issue.

A new study by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) reveals a disturbing discovery in recent car crashes – over 50% resulted from distracted driving.

CMT investigated the issue by examining phone logs from drivers in hundreds of thousands of documented accidents.

Here are a few of the frightening key findings:

Distracted driving occurred during 52% of trips that resulted in a crash.

On drives that involved a crash, the average duration of distraction was 135 seconds.

Phone distraction lasts for two minutes or more on 20% of trips often occurs at high speeds: 29% at speeds exceeding 56 miles per hour.

The three most common types of phone distraction are texting, using social media and email.

Driving is one of the most complex activities for a human brain. Too many drivers are distracted while driving and many are paying for it with their lives.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), car crash fatalities have risen 14% since 2015. It’s the largest two-year increase in the last fifty years!

Sadly, the NSC reports that 11 teens die every day in this country as a result of texting and driving. Distracted driving has become a national health crisis. It’s one of the most urgent public safety issues facing our communities.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness month. We now know that cellphone use is now the major cause of car crashes. Last week, 13 members of a church group died in a fatal wreck in Texas. The 20-year-old driver has admitted that he was texting and driving.

As an injury and wrongful death law firm, we have seen the devastation caused by car crashes. People can be permanently disabled or injured, and sometimes, fatalities can result. Lives can be changed forever and the devastation cannot be undone.

Driving while distracted by a cellphone is not worth the risk. Let’s hope that the study results will be shocking enough to make drivers put their phones away while driving.