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.

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Other Word Forms

• distracted driver noun

Etymology

Origin of distracted driving

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

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

Contemporary traffic safety messaging that is focused on familiar problems like distracted driving is far less likely to do anything.

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2024

Seattle has made strides in bolstering walkability, but there’s more to do, especially along arterials, in an age of speeding and distracted driving.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2023

The motion sought to disallow the testimony of David Strayer, the professor at the University of Utah, who is expert in distracted driving.

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