distracted driving

American  

noun

1. driving a vehicle while engaging in an activity that has the potential to distract the driver from the task of driving.

   Bans on cell phone use in cars will help to reduce the dangers of distracted driving.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• distracted driver
  noun

Etymology

Origin of distracted driving

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

Amid the increase in citations for speeding, distracted driving, unsafe turns, unsafe lane changes, and seat belt and equipment violations, there has been a 15% decline in crashes, Young said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2024

Shulman blamed the problem in part on distracted driving.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 1, 2024

In 2021, more than 3,500 people in the United States were killed in crashes involving distracted driving, and more than 360,000 were injured, the agency said.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2024

Strayer's past research into multitasking and distracted driving associated with cellphone use has drawn national attention.

From Science Daily • Jan. 29, 2024

At the end of the distracted driving conference, Secretary LaHood announced that President Obama had signed an order forbidding federal employees from texting while driving during work hours.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel