BOISE – April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and while the observed safety month is drawing to a close, AAA is reminding drivers to keep their attention on the roads as we near the beginning of road trip season.
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, there were 4,435 distracted-driving crashes on Gem State roads in 2024, resulting in 51 deaths that represented 21% of all traffic fatalities that year. Distracted driving crashes also caused 21% of all traffic injuries in Idaho.
“The main temptation may be the cell phone, but as a driver, you know yourself better than anyone, and you may need to take things a step further,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “If you’re distracted by other things, such as grooming, eating, or even emotionally charged conversations, please have the discipline to say that it can wait.”
ITD further reports that the economic cost of distracted driving crashes in Idaho was $1.1 billion in 2024 alone, including lost productivity, damages, and other associated expenses.
“AAA coined the phrase ‘intexticated’ to draw a comparison between impaired driving and distracted driving,” Conde said. “As a society, we’ve done a good job of making drinking and driving culturally unacceptable. But many of the same effects – poor judgment, delayed reaction time, and tunnel vision – can easily occur when we’re distracted. We’ve got some work to do before everyone realizes how risky distracted driving really is, even if only for the benefits of avoiding a costly repair bill.”
Someday, vehicle technology may be able to perform every aspect of the driving task. But for now, every vehicle being sold in the United States requires an engaged and attentive driver.
“As the days get longer and the weather improves, people will log more miles behind the wheel and may travel at faster speeds,” Conde said. “Focus remains an important part of the safety plan.”