Distracted driving, especially when using a cell phone, is one of the main issues when driving. Using a phone raises the chance of a collision. Previous research has demonstrated how our brains work when we are doing two things at once, including using a mobile phone and driving. Given the existing awareness of the potential risks involved with distracted driving and its impacts on driving, as established by prior studies, drivers and aspiring drivers need to be aware of the prevalence of using mobile phones while driving and how to prevent it.

Introduction

Numerous studies have shown that using a cell phone while driving raises the probability of crashes. An analysis of the drivers most likely to be involved in near accidents is provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (n.d.) (p.5). According to Dahl (2025), using a phone while driving a car doubles the chance of an accident (p. 3). In addition to pointing out that reaching for a ringing phone increases the likelihood of an accident, he also identifies the numbers when we are most likely to crash when dialing a number (p. 3).

It is common for people to believe that they can effectively finish two activities at the same time. However, according with the National Safety Council (2012) the human brain doesn't perform two tasks at the same time. Instead, it handles them sequentially, alternating between one task and the other (p. 5). In fact, they state that the brain switches its concentration when people try to do two cognitively tasks, like driving and talking on the phone. (p. 6). Dahl (2025) asserts that although we feel like multitaskers and think we can perform a lot of things at once, our brains don’t do two things at the same time. (p. 3). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2022) shares that without our full thoughtfulness when driving, we cannot drive cautiously (p. 2).

Research Methods

An anonymous survey for Whatcom Community College students and non-students was used for the project's primary research. It was distributed via Google Forms with a digital link. On May 28, 2025, the survey was formally released and distributed. Twenty-two persons took part in the study, and data and findings were gathered on June 11, 2025. The survey's target demographic is anyone between the ages of 18 and 35. WCC students made up 90.9% of the 22 replies, while non-college students made up 9.1%. After six days, the survey was closed, and several charts were made using the data that was collected. The survey was limited due to its small sample size and the legal restrictions surrounding the distribution of surveys.

Explore Results:

According to my survey, about 82.4% (See Figure 1) persons consider texting as an activity with a greater risk to the driver and others around them. The U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2022) shows that “Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds” (p. 2). Indeed, texting while driving is a common distraction that most survey participants selected because of the greater risk of an accident. The Washington State Department of Licensing (n.d.) compares a driver who texts with a driver who has double the alcohol limit (p. 3). Additionally, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (2024) notes that typing text messages impairs a driver's ability to maintain control of the car within a lane to respond to other vehicles and significant traffic incidents and direct their attention appropriately to the road (p. 3).