Study: 91% of millennials driving around Philadelphia-area are driving distracted

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - It's no secret that distracted driving is an issue affecting motorists across the country. According to a new study that included the Philadelphia area, 75% of drivers use a mobile device behind the wheel.

"Everyone knows this is wrong that it's dangerous, but in the moment, it's hard to put that up against the urge to do it," explained Dr. Kit Delgado.

Dr. Delgado, a University of Pennsylvania emergency medicine and trauma surgeon, says local fatalities and serious injuries as a resulted of distracted driving are alarming.

However, it is also important to note that drivers are not the only ones who are distracted.

Nearly 6,000 pedestrian deaths last were reported last year.

FOX 29's Joyce Evans spoke with one driver who said she knows it's not safe to drive distracted, but everybody feels the need to multitask.

"Because if you're only doing one thing at a time, you feel like you're wasting your life a little bit," explained Cheltenham resident Ikeya Speed.

Other drivers say they're fed up and tired of seeing other drivers distracted while behind the wheel, and pedestrians who also may be distracted while crossing the street.

The 'Every Second Matters' campaign found hundreds of distracted drivers, of all ages, in the Philadelphia area. They conducted their study over the Thanksgiving holiday and say one group really stood out.

"91% of millennials driving around Philadelphia right now are actively using their phones while driving, that's a shocking number," explained Joan Woodward, president of Travelers Institute.

"By this time tomorrow nine people will have been killed by distracted drivers and hundreds more injured in crashes," Dr. Delgado added.

Doctors, tech companies, and other groups are partnering with insurance executives to try to break a societal norm, starting with pushing harder for the use of "Do Not Disturb" reminders while driving and a financial reward on insurance policies.