Utah’s distracted driving deaths stayed steady from 2023 to 2024, but that’s not the whole story

SALT LAKE CITY — At face value, it may seem like a good thing that the number of distracted driving deaths hasn’t gone up in Utah. However, one expert believes the data might not be telling the whole story.

Currently, these numbers are largely based on people admitting that they were distracted following a crash. 

“The person who caused the crash or the people who were in the crash, if they were distracted, most likely they’re not going to say ‘I was on my phone,'” said Kristen Hoschouer, Zero Fatalities program manager.

Hoschouer believes people are becoming laxer on their driving focus because our cars have gotten smarter. With options like cameras, lane departure warnings, automatic emergency braking and traffic sign recognition, drivers can sometimes become too reliant on features and begin to let distractions in.

“For most people, driving is the most dangerous thing they’re going to do all day. So we need to give it the respect that it deserves,” Hoschouer said.

A better way to track distracted driving

To get a better idea of how many crashes are really caused by distractions, police officers are finding ways to be more thorough following crashes. Detailed reports will, hopefully, give the most accurate numbers possible.

“The more specific they can be, the more likely it is that we can see that the problem is worse or what’s really happening on the roads,” Hoschouer said.

For inspiration on being better behind the wheel, visit the Zero Fatalities website.

“You can see stories of people who, this has happened to them. Where they’re distracted and they hit a pedestrian. These things can happen. I think the more we remember that, and we don’t think that ‘This will never happen to me.’ Just take it seriously and just be focused because you don’t know when something could happen,” Hoschouer said. 

Related: Utah Highway Patrol cracking down on distracted driving ahead of summer