Our Reality: Distracted Driving

According to a study in the US, nearly 45% of us are guilty of this--but distracted driving has serious and often deadly consequences. Despite its popularity in the workplace, 'multitasking' is a bit of a myth, and it especially cannot be done safely while you're driving. Using a mobile phone, even briefly, while driving, raises your risk of a crash by over 400%. But phones provide so much help when we're on the road--playing music, helping us navigate unfamiliar roads, and providing vital communication we need to plan our day.

In the United States, 1 in every 4 car accidents is caused by mobile phone use - this is significantly higher than national rates of crashes caused by drunk driving or driving under the influence. Taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds--to change the song, check Google Maps, or reply to a text--can put you, your passengers, and other road users at serious risk.

In many countries, using a phone while driving is illegal and can cost you fines or even a loss of your license. Experts say that legal channels are only part of the problem--parents should be aware of the examples they set while driving to help instill good habits in new drivers.

But innovation can help to address this problem - with many programs being created to track mobile phone use while driving and help law enforcement and insurance companies to address this vital issue.

The Inocrowd Mobile Phone Challenge is looking for innovative ways to detect mobile phone use while driving, to help collect more data on this bad habit and create new ways to cut down on the use of mobile phones while driving.

Your ideas could save lives - follow us on Instagram to learn about more challenges and more ways to make a difference!