New Data from Root Insurance Shows Americans Spend 11% of Drive Time on Phones, with Gen Z Twice as Distracted as Baby Boomers

Rhea-AI Summary

Root Insurance reveals concerning distracted driving trends in its 2025 Focused Driving Report, analyzing over 1.3 billion miles of driving data. The study shows Americans spend 11% of their drive time on phones, with Gen Z drivers using phones nearly twice as much (14.78%) as Baby Boomers (6.34%).

Key findings show Portland, Oregon as the most focused city (8.74% distraction rate), while New Orleans, Louisiana ranks as the most distracted (15.20%). The study identifies 5:00 a.m. as the least distracted hour (7.16%), with peak phone usage at 7:00 p.m. (11.65%).

Survey results from 500 drivers reveal texting (86%), social media (77%), and handheld calls (75%) as top distractions. Notably, 46% of drivers reported close calls or accidents while distracted, and 72% indicated they would reduce phone use if insurance rates reflected their focusing behavior.

Positive

• Root's data-driven insurance model rewards safe driving behavior, with 72% of survey respondents indicating willingness to reduce phone use for better rates
• Company has collected and analyzed over 1.3 billion miles of driving data, demonstrating strong market penetration and data assets
• Root's technology-driven approach enables precise risk assessment through real driving behavior data

Negative

• Data shows concerning levels of distracted driving (11% of drive time), which could lead to higher insurance claims and payouts
• Gen Z drivers (likely a key target demographic) show highest risk behavior with nearly 15% phone usage while driving
• 46% of surveyed drivers reported close calls or accidents while distracted, indicating high potential claim liability

Portland, Oregon named most focused city; New Orleans, Louisiana ranks as most distracted city in Root’s 2025 Focused Driving Report

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Root Insurance, a technology-driven personal car insurance carrier and subsidiary of Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT), today released its 2025 Focused Driving Report in recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Using real-world driving data, the report sheds light on one of the most dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claims more than 3,200 lives in the U.S. every year.

Root, known for its modern data science approach to car insurance, offers rates primarily based on how people drive. The company analyzed more than 1.3 billion miles of driving data from across the country. The findings reveal that, on average, U.S. drivers are distracted by their phones for nearly 11 out of every 100 miles driven, or 11% of the time. Additionally, Root surveyed 500 drivers nationwide to better understand what’s pulling their attention from the road and what they’re doing to stay focused in the driver’s seat.

Read the 2025 Focused Driving Report at joinroot.com/2025-focused-driving-report.

“Phone use behind the wheel remains one of the most common and preventable risks on the road,” said Matt Bonakdarpour, President and Chief Technology Officer at Root Insurance. “Distracted driving doesn’t just put the driver at risk, it endangers everyone around them and often creates a ripple effect of other unsafe behaviors, such as hard braking and sharp turns. Our data makes it clear that phone use while driving is still a major issue, and staying focused is one of the simplest ways to make the roads safer for everyone.”

Findings from Root’s data analysis include:

• Geographic Differences
  • Oregon, Washington, and West Virginia were the most focused states.
  • Louisiana, Mississippi, and Illinois ranked as the most distracted.
  • Portland, Oregon, topped the list of most focused metros (8.74%).
  • New Orleans, Louisiana, was the most distracted (15.20%), with drivers picking up their phones nearly 7 more times per 100 miles than those in Portland.
• Generational Divide
  • Gen Z drivers use their phones nearly twice as often (14.78%) as Baby Boomers (6.34%) while driving.
• Early Morning Focus
  • 5:00 a.m. is the least distracted hour of the day (7.16%).
  • 7:00 p.m. saw the highest rates of phone use behind the wheel (11.65%).

Survey Insights:

• 86% of drivers cited texting while driving as the most common phone-based distraction, followed by social media use (77%) and handheld phone calls (75%).
• Nearly half (46%) admitted to a close call or accident while distracted; 60% of them reported changing their driving behavior afterward.
• 13% of drivers admitted to using social media while driving. Among those, Facebook was the most commonly used app at 64%, followed by Instagram & TikTok at 61%.
• Encouragingly, 72% of respondents said they’d be less likely to use their phones while driving if their insurance rate reflected their focus behind the wheel—a model Root uses to reward safe driving behavior.

The 2025 Focused Driving Report, which uses driving data collected from January to December of 2024, offers a data-driven look at distracted driving trends across the U.S. to raise awareness and encourage safer habits behind the wheel.

Privacy Commitment:
Root is committed to protecting driver privacy, and data security is a core part of its business. The company only collects data from users who enable permissions through the app, and it does not sell user driving information.

About Root, Inc.
Founded in 2015 and based in Columbus, Ohio, Root, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROOT) is the parent company of Root Insurance Company. Root is revolutionizing insurance through data science and technology to provide consumers a personalized, easy, and fair experience. The Root app has more than 15 million app downloads and has collected more than 31 billion miles of driving data to inform their insurance offerings.

For further information on Root, visit root.com.

Contact:
press@root.com

FAQ

What percentage of driving time do Americans spend on phones according to Root Insurance (ROOT) 2025 report?

According to Root Insurance's 2025 Focused Driving Report, Americans spend 11% of their driving time (11 out of every 100 miles) using their phones while driving.

Which cities are the most and least distracted by phones while driving in 2025?

Portland, Oregon is the most focused city with 8.74% distraction rate, while New Orleans, Louisiana ranks as the most distracted city with 15.20% phone usage while driving.

How much more likely are Gen Z drivers to use phones while driving compared to Baby Boomers?

According to Root Insurance's data, Gen Z drivers use their phones nearly twice as often (14.78%) compared to Baby Boomers (6.34%) while driving.

What are the peak hours for distracted driving according to ROOT's 2025 report?

The most distracted time is 7:00 p.m. with 11.65% phone usage, while 5:00 a.m. is the least distracted hour with 7.16% phone usage.

What percentage of drivers would reduce phone use if insurance rates reflected driving focus?

72% of survey respondents said they would be less likely to use their phones while driving if their insurance rates reflected their focus behind the wheel.

What are the top social media apps used while driving according to ROOT's 2025 study?

Among the 13% of drivers who admit to using social media while driving, Facebook is most common at 64%, followed by Instagram and TikTok at 61%.