Survey: 66% of Americans Chow Down Behind the Wheel
A new survey from Compare the Market explores distracted driving and other common risky behaviors drivers engage in.

A new survey finds that 40% of Americans send texts, 47% speed, and 66% eat while driving.
Source: Compare the Market
Some 55% of Americans confess to using their mobile phone while behind the wheel, according to a recent survey from Compare the Market.
When it comes to just who tends to use their cell phones while driving, the survey results are surprising. While 63% of those aged 25-34 said they do so, the younger cohort — ages 18-24 — are less likely to do so, with only 41% reporting they use a cell phone when driving.
When cell phone users were asked what apps they were most likely to use behind the wheel, the majority — 67% — favored navigation apps. Some 55% of Americans also said they will look to text after checking their route. In addition, 43% say they use music apps like Spotify when driving, and 30% engage in social media, while 20% admit to using email.
The survey also explores other distracted and risky behaviors that people engage in during driving.
By far the top bad driving habit was eating behind the wheel. An alarming 66% of Americans admit to refueling their bodies on the go — when their hands should be on the wheel. While eating in a vehicle is not technically illegal in America, it can result in fines if the behavior causes a collision.
Speeding ranked second as the most common bad habit drivers engage in, with 47% reporting they drive over the speed limit. Sending texts ranked third (40%). In addition, 34% of U.S. drivers admit to failing to use a seatbelt and 25% confess to running a red light.
Distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,142 Americans in 2020 alone according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
More Safety

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 →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 →
Reducing Risk by Eliminating Phone Use Behind the Wheel
Hosted with the cofounder of Lifesaver Mobile, this episode addresses phone use behind the wheel and how to design a driving environment that actually helps prevents accidents.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)
Part Two: Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Continue learning more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab
Read More →
How 5-Second Telematics Data Is Changing Fleet Safety
This episode connects with Steve Santostasi of Ford Pro and covers how a few seconds of data can make a difference in fleet safety.
Read More →
Managing Road Risk at Scale: Why Fleet Safety Needs a Data-Driven Framework
Insights from the FIA Road and Driver Safety Indexes reveal how to manage road risk on a larger scale.
Read More →
Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk
Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.
Read More →
Coaching Is Not Training, Even When AI Is Doing It
AI-powered safety platforms can detect risky behaviors and deliver immediate feedback. But effective driver development still requires a foundation of training followed by coaching that reinforces those skills.
Read More →
How Emotions Behind the Wheel Can Affect Fleet Safety
During National Safety Month, fleets are encouraged to look beyond distracted driving and recognize how stress, fatigue, and emotional well-being influence driver performance and crash risk.
Read More →
