Fact check/Is distracted driving out of control in Washington state?
Fact check: Is distracted driving out of control in Washington state?
February 13, 2017
By Sara Reynolds
In a recent editorial, the Union-Bulletin endorsed legislation to make it illegal to hold a smartphone, tablet or other communications device while driving in Washington state. According to the editorial, "Distracted driving is out of control. In 2015, distracted driving was blamed for 171 traffic deaths — almost one-third of all traffic fatalities in the state."[1]
Is distracted driving in Washington state "out of control"?
"Out of control" is a subjective phrase. According to data from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC):
- Fatalities resulting from distracted driving collisions increased 6 percent between 2009 and 2015 (from 161 to 171) compared to a 12-percent increase in total collision fatalities (492-551).[2]
- From 7 percent to 10 percent of all collisions annually involved distracted driving between 2009 and 2015.[3] [4]
- Over the seven-year period, collisions involving a distracted driver increased by 46 percent compared to a 14-percent increase in total collisions.[3]
- Over the same period, fatal collisions involving distracted driving increased by 5 percent compared to an increase of 10 percent in total fatal collisions.[2]
- Collisions involving distracted driving accounted for about a third of all collision fatalities between 2009 and 2015.[2]
- Fatalities involving an impaired driver consistently accounted for a higher proportion of fatal collisions than those involving a distracted driver.[2] [5]
According to public safety officials, there are inherent difficulties in determining the precise cause of a collision, and data is inconsistent because of different systems used by various jurisdictions.[6]
Background
Washington State Representative Jessyn Farrell (D-Seattle) and state Senator [[Ann_Rivers|Ann Rivers]] (R-La Center) introduced the Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act, a bill to amend distracted driving prohibitions. Existing law bars motorists from holding a phone to their ear while driving, and the legislation would, if enacted, further prohibit drivers from using any personal communications or electronic device.[7] [8] [9] Rivers sponsored similar legislation in 2015 which passed the Senate, but not the House.[10]
The Washington State Department of Transportation defines distracted driving as "any non-driving activity that diverts a driver’s attention from the task of driving itself." This includes phone use, eating, drinking, talking with passengers, and distraction from objects inside and outside of the vehicle. Transportation officials contend that telephones differ from other types of distractions because the device is a visual, manual, and cognitive distraction.[6]
Washington State Police, in reporting the circumstances of a collision, may select among 52 options for cause--13 of which relate to distracted driving. To report distracted driving, the officer or a witness must observe the distraction first-hand; the driver must self-report the distraction; or phone records prove it.[11] [6]
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, using handheld phones while driving is prohibited in 14 states, the District of Columbia (D.C.), Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thirty-seven states and D.C. ban all cell phone use among teenagers and new drivers. Forty-six states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers.[12]
Distracted driving collisions in Washington state
Ballotpedia reviewed collision data from 2009 through 2015 (the first full year in which state law prohibited distracted driving, and the most recent year with annual data).[1]
Collisions involving distracted driving ranged between about 7 percent and 10 percent of total collisions annually, and increased by 46 percent between 2009 and 2015 (compared to a 14-percent increase in total collisions).[3]
| Traffic collisions and distracted driving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total traffic collisions | Total distracted driver-involved collisions | Percent distracted driver-involved collisions of total collisions | Percent change of distracted driver-involved collisions from previous year |
| 2015 | 117,113 | 11,802 | 10.08% | 7.59% |
| 2014 | 107,690 | 10,969 | 10.19% | 23.21% |
| 2013 | 99,763 | 8,903 | 8.92% | 21.41% |
| 2012 | 99,616 | 7,333 | 7.36% | 1.41% |
| 2011 | 98,945 | 7,231 | 7.31% | 3.88% |
| 2010 | 101,878 | 6,961 | 6.83% | (13.88%) |
| 2009 | 103,001 | 8,083 | 7.85% | (8.84%) |
Between 2009 and 2015, an average of 30 percent of fatal collisions involved distracted driving, but impaired drivers caused a higher proportion of fatal collisions.[2]
| Fatal collisions in Washington state | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total fatal collisions | Fatal collisions involving distracted driving | Percent distracted-driver involved collisions of total fatal collisions | Fatal collisions involving impaired driving | Percent impaired
driver- involved collisions of total fatal collisions |
| 2015 | 499 | 157 | 31.46% | 229 | 45.89% |
| 2014 | 429 | 123 | 28.67% | 208 | 48.48% |
| 2013 | 401 | 116 | 28.93% | 209 | 52.12% |
| 2012 | 403 | 111 | 27.54% | 194 | 48.14% |
| 2011 | 421 | 121 | 28.74% | 194 | 46.08% |
| 2010 | 422 | 125 | 29.62% | 218 | 51.66% |
| 2009 | 453 | 149 | 32.89% | 241 | 53.20% |
|
Source: Washignton Traffic Safety Commission, "Quarterly Target Zero Data," accessed January 30, 2017 | |||||
Fatalities and distracted driving collisions in Washington state
Between 2009 and 2015, fatalities resulting from distracted driving made up an average of about 30 percent of total fatalities, and increased about 6 percent while total collision fatalities increased by 12 percent.[2]
| Fatalities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total fatalities from all collisions | Fatalities from distracted-driver involved collisions | Percent distracted-driver involved fatalities of total fatalities | Percent change of distracted-driver involved fatalities from previous year |
| 2015 | 551 | 171 | 31.03% | 31.54% |
| 2014 | 462 | 130 | 28.14% | 8.33% |
| 2013 | 436 | 120 | 27.52% | (0.83%) |
| 2012 | 438 | 121 | 27.63% | (7.63%) |
| 2011 | 454 | 131 | 28.85% | (2.24%) |
| 2010 | 460 | 134 | 29.13% | (16.77%) |
| 2009 | 492 | 161 | 32.72% | 25.78% |
|
Source: Washignton Traffic Safety Commission, "Quarterly Target Zero Data," accessed January 30, 2017 | ||||
Conclusion
Endorsing legislation to prohibit holding electronic devices while driving in Washington state, a Union-Bulletin editorial said, “Distracted driving is out of control. In 2015, distracted driving was blamed for 171 traffic deaths — almost one-third of all traffic fatalities in the state.”[1]
Collisions involving distracted driving increased by 46 percent between 2009 and 2015 compared to a 14-percent increase in total collisions. Fatalities resulting from distracted driving collisions increased 6 percent between 2009 and 2015 compared to a 12-percent increase in total collision fatalities. Fatalities involving an impaired driver consistently accounted for a higher proportion of fatal collisions than those involving a distracted driver.[3] [2]
See also
- Washington 2016 ballot measures
- List of Washington ballot measures
- Fact check: Is Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman in the "crosshairs" of the voting rights group iVote?
- Hawaii passes statewide distracted driving law
Sources and Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Union Bulletin, "State Legislature must reduce distracted driving," January 20, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Washington Traffic Safety Commission, "Quarterly Target Zero Data," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Washington State Department of Transportation, "WA State Crash Data Portal," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ The actual figures can be found in the tables below.
- ↑ According to the Washington State Patrol, "Washington State Police Traffic Collision Report Instruction Manual," a driver can be reported as both impaired and distracted in one collision.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Washington State Department of Transportation, "The 2016 Plan: Target Zero," accessed February 2, 2017
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "HB 1371 - 2017-2018," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "SB 5289 - 2017-2018," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ Seattle Bike Blog, "WA distracted driving law is written for flip phones, bipartisan bill would give it a vital update," January 18, 2017
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "SB 5656 - 2015-2016," accessed January 30, 2017
- ↑ Washington State Patrol, "Washington State Police Traffic Collision Report Instruction Manual," accessed February 2, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Cellular Phone Use and Texting While Driving Laws," March 10, 2016
Launched in October 2015 and active through October 2018, Fact Check by Ballotpedia examined claims made by elected officials, political appointees, and political candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. We evaluated claims made by politicians of all backgrounds and affiliations, subjecting them to the same objective and neutral examination process. As of 2025, Ballotpedia staff periodically review these articles to revaluate and reaffirm our conclusions. Please email us with questions, comments, or concerns about these articles. To learn more about fact-checking, click here.
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