IIHS: Cell Phone Use in Crashes Undercounted by Factor of Seven

Official police reports are drastically undercounting the role of mobile devices in vehicle collisions, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The research suggests that cell phone use prior to a crash occurs at least seven times more often than is recorded in official crash data.

To uncover the gap, the IIHS analyzed nearly 17,000 crashes across four states between 2021 and 2024. Rather than relying on officer observations or driver testimony, the study utilized telematics data provided by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT). The findings revealed that cell phone use occurred in the 30 seconds leading up to impact in 7% of single-vehicle crashes and 8% of two-vehicle crashes. In stark contrast, official police reports recorded cell phone use in less than 1% of those same incidents.

The Data Gap

For years, the automotive safety industry and law enforcement have relied on police reports as the primary source for determining crash causality. However, these reports are fundamentally limited; they typically depend on visible evidence at the scene or self-reporting from drivers who may be injured, shocked, or unwilling to admit to illegal behavior. Digital distractions, by their nature, leave no physical trace on the road, making them nearly invisible to responding officers unless a device is found active in a driver's hand.

Industry Implications

This systemic underreporting suggests that the actual danger posed by mobile devices behind the wheel is far greater than current statistics indicate. When the discrepancy reaches a factor of seven, it implies that existing safety policies and legal frameworks may be built on a flawed foundation. If policymakers operate under the assumption that distracted driving is a marginal factor in crashes, they may underestimate the necessary urgency for stricter enforcement or the development of more robust in-cabin monitoring technologies.

Future Outlook

As telematics and connected vehicle data become more prevalent, the IIHS and other safety organizations are likely to shift away from traditional reporting methods to get a clearer picture of driver behavior. The industry now faces the challenge of reconciling these digital footprints with legal reporting standards. For now, the study serves as a warning that the official record of distracted driving is likely a fraction of the reality on the road.