According to a report recently released by the National Safety Council cell phone use was involved in an estimated 25% of all highway fatalities. This was disputed by the Governors’ Highway Safety Association which cited federal figures suggesting distraction was a factor in only 10% of fatal crashes and that cell phone were implicated in just over 1% of those. However, the Safety Council noted that even when drivers say they were using cell phones often times it was not included in the Crash Report or was not admitted by the drivers.
Regardless, of the actual figures, distraction along with impaired driving is a major cause of fatal collisions. All drivers, but especially motorcyclists and bicyclists, because of their vulnerability and reduced visibility, should drive defensively. It should never be assumed that other drivers will obey traffic laws and yield the right-of-way, etc.