Related: Work Demands Contribute to Distracted Driving Behaviors
States with the Most & Least Distracted Drivers
The data compared NHTSA distracted driving fatalities data and Zendrive's 2018 and 2019 Distracted Driving Studies.
February 3, 2021
The data compared NHTSA distracted driving fatalities data and Zendrive's 2018 and 2019 Distracted Driving Studies.
Photo: Pexels
1 min to read
New Mexico ranks as the state with the most distracted drivers, while Arkansas is the state with the least distracted drivers, according to a study by Whistleout.
New Mexico ranked the highest with drivers spending over 8% of their driving time on their smartphones despite state laws prohibiting use of handheld devices while driving, the study found.
Whistleout reviewed NHTSA distracted driving fatalities data and Zendrive's 2018 and 2019 Distracted Driving Studies to determine the results.
Other states with the highest percentages of distracted driving were followed by Alabama, Montana, Washington, and Kentucky.
Meanwhile, just behind Arkansas in the list of states with the least distracted drivers are New York, Alaska, Pennsylvania, and Indiana .
The information obtained from both NHTSA and Zendrive was the most recent data available, and was based on fatalities data, as well as data concerning the percentage of time drivers were observed using their phones while driving, the study said.
More Safety
The Safest Fleets Aren’t the Ones with the Most Technology
You’ve made the telematics investment. Here’s how to capture the other half of its value and build the safest fleet on the road.
Read More →
Sponsored•August 7, 2026
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness
Read More →
NETS Sets 2026 Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference for Indianapolis
The Sept. 15–17 program will feature fleet benchmarking data, case studies, emerging technologies, and implementation strategies while running alongside the NSC Safety Congress & Expo.
Read More →
Off-the-Job Crashes Account for 43% of Employers’ $61.7 Billion Crash Burden
NETS quantifies costs dispersed across fleet, risk, HR, and other departments while providing new per-crash benchmarks for employers.
Read More →
Ram Recalls More Than 1.27 Million 1500 Pickups for Seat Belt Anchor Issue
The recall affects certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups that may have improperly attached second-row seat belt buckle anchors.
Read More →
Sponsored•July 17, 2026
How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%
Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.
Read More →
Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets
A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.
Read More →
Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset
Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.
Read More →
Sponsored•July 2, 2026
From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets
From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.
Read More →
IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?
Read More →