New Study Reveals Link Between Drivers Who Speed and Use Their Phone While Driving

Why It Matters

The findings reveal that speed‑related risk behavior clusters with distracted‑driving, giving insurers and regulators a data‑driven target for reducing crashes and insurance losses.

Key Takeaways

• Speeding drivers increase phone use by 12% per 5 mph on highways
• On regular roads, phone use rises 3% per 5 mph over limit
• Higher speed limits amplify the phone‑use increase for each excess mph
• Insurers can flag risky drivers using app sensor data
• Policy makers may target combined speed‑and‑phone violations for safety campaigns

Pulse Analysis

The IIHS leveraged anonymized telematics from insurer‑sponsored apps, pairing GPS‑derived speed data with gyroscope‑based phone activity. By focusing on trips lasting at least 18 minutes and containing a minimum two‑minute interstate segment, the study ensured a robust sample that reflects real‑world driving patterns. This methodological rigor distinguishes the research from anecdotal reports, offering a granular view of how risk‑taking behaviors co‑occur across different roadway types.

Key findings highlight a clear, proportional relationship between excess speed and smartphone interaction. On limited‑access highways, each 5 mph over the limit spurs a 12% jump in phone use, while on surface streets the increase is 3%. Moreover, higher posted speed limits intensify the effect, suggesting that drivers perceive faster environments as more conducive to multitasking. Insurers can exploit these insights by refining telematics‑based scoring models, flagging drivers who consistently exceed speed thresholds while their phones remain active, thereby tailoring premium adjustments and targeted safety interventions.

For policymakers, the study underscores the need for integrated enforcement strategies that address both speeding and distracted driving simultaneously. Educational campaigns could emphasize the compounded danger of combining these behaviors, while law‑enforcement agencies might consider joint citations. As vehicle connectivity expands, future research should explore how emerging infotainment systems and autonomous features influence the speed‑phone nexus, ensuring that safety regulations keep pace with technological evolution.