According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, risk of a collision increases by how many percent when talking on a cell phone while driving?

• A. 400%
• B. 100%
• C. 50%
• D. 200%

Answer: (A)

Talking on a cell phone while driving diverts your attention and makes you about four times more likely to crash than if you weren’t using a phone. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes this roughly fourfold increase in crash risk when a phone is involved, reflecting the added cognitive load, slower reaction times, and reduced situational awareness that come with conversing while behind the wheel. In practical terms, this is described as a 400% increase in risk because the chance of a crash is about four times higher than normal driving without a phone call. The impact is large because the brain can handle only so much at once, and engaging in a conversation takes mental resources away from monitoring speed, distance, and lane position.