Distracted driving Coverage

Distracted driving causes more crashes in NC than speed & alcohol combined

WRAL Investigates learned that distracted driving is the cause of more crashes in North Carolina than speed and alcohol combined.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL investigates reporter

WRAL Investigates: What state lawmakers plan to do about distracted driving

WRAL Investigates learned distracted is driving behind more crashes in North Carolina than speed and alcohol combined.

'Buckle up and slow down' the message after spike in Wake County driving deaths

Wake County is leading the state in the number of fatal crashes. It's a growing trend causing deep heartache for families.

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter

Drivers, workers on the road call for more attentive driving in light of I-40 death

Some construction workers, tow truck drivers and flaggers in the area are speaking out to make their workplace safer. They said that starts with drivers paying attention.

Dangers of working in construction a daily reality for colleagues of man killed in I-40 crash

Family and friends of a young father killed in a construction zone on Interstate 40 are calling for safer driving on the roads.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

Helping older drivers fight distracted driving: NCSU researchers target ‘Attention Failure’

Researchers from North Carolina State University and Texas Tech University have developed a straightforward questionnaire that older adults can use to assess their “attentional performance” during driving. In proof-of-concept testing, the researchers have demonstrated the tool can predict which drivers are at increased risk of having accidents.

Crashes up, deaths down in North Carolina work zones

The North Carolina Department of Transportation estimated that more than 50% of crashes in work zones in 2021 involved speeding or distracted driving.

NC has had 206 deaths in work zones since 2016. NCDOT names two main causes.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation estimated "more than 50%" of crashes in work zones in 2021 involved speeding or distracted driving.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

Study: Why can't people put their phones down while driving?

A new study says an astonishing 70% of drivers have sneaked a peak or used their phone while behind the wheel recently.

Hands-free driving bill set aside in North Carolina

A multi-year effort to rein in distracted driving falls short again, with Senate Republicans blocking movement.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Cognitive slowdown should signal it's time to give up the car keys

Age is less a factor than a reduction in the ability to multitask, concentrate and react quickly in determining when someone should stop driving.

ECU prof: Prepare to outlive your ability to drive

​An ECU professor suggests that other behavior and cognitive slowdowns can signal it's time to take away the car keys.

Indira Esiekva, WRAL Eastern North Carolina reporter

Highway safety expert says pandemic contributed to speeding, distracted driving

The number of fatal crashes on North Carolina's highways has gone up this year, even though the number of cars on the road went down during the pandemic.

What you need to know about driving safely after quarantine

As North Carolina begins to slowly reopen, there will be more people on the road than there have been in recent months. As people resume regular routines, road safety should be of paramount importance. Implement these tips to drive safely after quarantine.

Latisha Catchatoorian, WRAL Digital Solutions

New report calls for stricter road safety laws, cites NC for having only 10 of 16

North Carolina only scored a 10 out of 16 on the 2020 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws report, which ranked states based on laws ranging from seat belt requirements to impaired driving punishments.

Joe Fisher, WRAL Breaking News reporter

New report ranks North Carolina driving safety laws 10 out of 16

The 2020 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws report provided a 'report card' on 16 traffic safety laws for each state. The report ranked states based on laws ranging from seat belt requirements to impaired driving punishments.

Is distracted driving as dangerous as drunk driving?

As the number of distracted driving-related incidents increases in the United States, so do indictments of drivers who, in some cases, took a quick glance at their cell phone or GPS, sometimes leading to the injury, or death, of another.

Natalie Yerger, freelance reporter

North Carolina sees 3rd highest teen driver fatality rate nationwide

North Carolina proved to be one of the most dangerous states for teen drivers, according to a study by ValuePenguin by LendingTree.

Talking Tech: Older drivers are vulnerable to in-vehicle technology

In-vehicle technology can cause major distractions, and Brian Shrader tells us that older drivers have the most difficulty multi-tasking behind the wheel.

Combination of July 4th travel, distracted driving worries experts

Safety analysts say highway travel around July 4th is different from other holiday travel periods because traffic's more congested.

Senators discuss hands-free legislation

Senators hold a news conference with families of people who have died because of distracted driving crashes to press for a state ban on using a hand-held phone while driving.

Parents who lost children to distracted driving say NC needs tougher law

Three state senators who also happen to be insurance agents said Tuesday that they would restore language in a pending bill that would prohibit drivers from using a hand-held phone behind the wheel.

Senators vow to get hands on with distracted driving bill

Three state senators who also happen to be insurance agents said Tuesday that they would restore language in a pending bill that would prohibit drivers from using a hand-held phone behind the wheel.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor, & Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Full debate: House squabbles over distracted driving bill

Some House members call a bill outlawing distracted driving without prohibited any specific actions behind the wheel a feel-good bill that does nothing, while others say state government should stop telling people what to do.

Distracted driving bill watered down before House passage

Despite concerns that it either goes too far or doesn't do enough, a bill outlawing distracted driving passed the House on Tuesday.