Reaching for a cell phone makes you how many times more likely to crash than a non-distracted driver?

Reaching for a cell phone significantly increases the likelihood of a crash due to the distractions it creates. The increased risk by 1.4 times indicates that the action of reaching for a phone while driving distracts a driver both mentally and physically from the task at hand. This distraction diverts attention away from the road, reduces situational awareness, and increases the chances of misjudgment regarding speed and distance to other vehicles.

Understanding the precise multiplier highlights the dangers of distracted driving and emphasizes the importance of remaining focused on driving. This statistic can also motivate drivers to adopt safer habits, such as using hands-free devices and keeping phones out of reach while driving to minimize distraction-related accidents.