These crashes happen when a driver’s focus shifts away from the road. They often happen in bike lanes, at intersections, and on quiet streets where drivers think it’s safe to take their hands off the wheel. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of bicycle accidents and one of the most common causes of driving accidents in the United States, alongside dooring and car vs bicycle collisions.
Driver distraction comes in three forms. The CDC breaks them down this way:
- Visual. Eyes off the road (reading a text message, checking navigation apps, looking at a passenger).
- Manual. Hands off the wheel (holding a phone, using GPS, eating, applying makeup, or reaching for a device). Using GPS, eating food while driving is dangerously common behavior.
- Cognitive. Mind off driving (a heated call, daydreaming, work stress). Even seemingly harmless distractions like phone calls or navigation can lead to serious consequences.
Texting hits all three at once — a single distraction that combines all dangerous behaviors. That’s why a single “quick look” at 35 mph can put a cyclist in the hospital. Texting and driving bicycle accidents are among the most preventable crashes on the road.
The NHTSA reports 3,275 people killed and 324,819 injured in distracted driving crashes in 2023. Inattention is a factor in 8% of all traffic fatalities. Combined with drunk driving accidents, these distractions account for a significant share of all driving accidents. A text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for about 5 seconds — long enough that the driver has no time for evasive action. Cyclists and bicyclists particularly are hit hardest because there’s no airbag, no metal frame, no second chance.