Most drivers know that speeding is risky. Most also know that using a phone while driving is dangerous. But new research suggests these two behaviors may be happening together more often than many safety experts previously believed.
A recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that drivers are more likely to handle their phones while speeding, especially on higher-speed roads such as highways and freeways. That finding is concerning because speeding and distracted driving each increase crash risk on their own. When combined, the danger can rise significantly.
What the IIHS Study Found
According to IIHS, safety experts once believed drivers were more likely to use their phones at slower speeds, such as while sitting in traffic or traveling through low-speed areas. However, new data from insurance safe-driving apps shows a different pattern.
The IIHS study analyzed nearly 600,000 trips taken across the United States between July and October 2024. Researchers looked at driving behavior in free-flowing traffic and excluded time spent stopped at intersections, sitting in congestion, or traveling well below the speed limit.
The findings were eye-opening:
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On limited-access roads, such as freeways and highways, phone handling increased by 12% for every 5 mph drivers traveled over the speed limit.
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On other roads, such as arterials and routes connecting towns, phone handling increased by 3% for every 5 mph over the speed limit.
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The connection between speeding and phone use was strongest on roads with higher posted speed limits.
In other words, drivers traveling above the speed limit on faster roads were more likely to also be interacting with their phones.
Why This Matters
Speeding reduces the time a driver must react. It also increases stopping distance and the severity of a crash. Distracted driving takes attention away from the road, hands off the wheel, or eyes away from traffic conditions.
When both behaviors happen at the same time, the margin for error becomes much smaller.
A driver traveling at highway speeds who looks down to read a message, change music, or respond to an alert can cover a significant distance in just a few seconds. At higher speeds, even a brief distraction can mean missing slowing traffic, a lane change, debris in the road, or another vehicle braking unexpectedly.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has consistently identified both speeding and distracted driving as major contributors to roadway deaths and injuries. NHTSA reported that distracted driving claimed 3,275 lives in 2023, while speeding-related crashes killed 11,775 people that same year.
Why Drivers May Take More Risks on Faster Roads
The IIHS study noted several reasons why phone use and speeding may overlap.
Some drivers may simply be more prone to risky behavior in general. A person who is willing to speed may also be more likely to check a phone while driving.
Road conditions may also play a role. On highways or open roads, drivers may feel more comfortable because there are fewer intersections, pedestrians, traffic lights, or stop signs. That feeling can create a false sense of security, even though the higher speeds leave less room for mistakes.
Stress may be another factor. During commuting hours, school drop-off times, or busy travel periods, drivers may feel pressure to get somewhere quickly while also responding to calls, texts, navigation alerts, or work-related messages.
Whatever the reason, the result is the same: two risky driving behaviors happening at once.
What This Means for Personal Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is designed to help protect drivers financially after an accident, but safer driving can also play a key role in keeping claims and costs under control.
Many insurance companies now offer usage-based insurance or safe-driving app programs. These programs may track behaviors such as speed, hard braking, acceleration, mileage, time of day, and phone handling. Drivers who demonstrate safer habits may qualify for savings, depending on the carrier and program.
However, the IIHS study shows that even drivers enrolled in safe-driving programs may still engage in risky behavior. Technology can encourage safer choices, but it cannot replace personal responsibility behind the wheel.
For individuals and families, this is a good reminder to:
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Put the phone away before driving
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Use hands-free navigation settings before leaving
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Avoid texting, scrolling, or handling the phone while moving
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Follow posted speed limits
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Talk to teen drivers about both speeding and distraction
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Consider whether a safe-driving app or telematics program may be a good fit
Commercial Drivers and Business Auto Risks
This issue is especially important for businesses with employees on the road. Whether a company operates delivery vehicles, service trucks, contractor vans, sales vehicles, or employee-owned vehicles used for work, distracted driving and speeding can create serious liability exposure.
A crash involving an employee driver can lead to vehicle damage, injuries, lawsuits, workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity, and higher insurance costs.
Businesses can help reduce risk by implementing clear driving policies, including:
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Prohibiting handheld phone use while driving
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Requiring drivers to pull over safely before making calls or responding to messages
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Monitoring speeding, hard braking, and phone-use trends when appropriate
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Training employees on distracted driving risks
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Maintaining vehicles properly
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Reviewing motor vehicle records for drivers
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Encouraging realistic scheduling so employees do not feel pressured to speed
For many businesses, a strong driver safety program can support better claims experience and may help when working with insurance carriers.
A Good Time to Review Your Coverage
Even careful drivers can be involved in accidents, and claims involving injuries or lawsuits can become expensive quickly. That is why it is important to review your personal auto, commercial auto, and umbrella liability coverage.
An umbrella policy can provide an added layer of liability protection above the limits of underlying policies, such as personal auto or homeowners insurance. For businesses, excess liability coverage may offer similar added protection above commercial policies.
If you have teen drivers, frequent commuting, business vehicles, delivery exposure, or employees who drive as part of their job, reviewing coverage limits is especially important.
Drive Safer, Stay Protected
The latest IIHS research is a reminder that speeding and phone use are not separate problems. Too often, they overlap—and when they do, the risk can increase dramatically.
Putting the phone down, slowing down, and staying focused are simple steps that can help protect drivers, passengers, pedestrians, businesses, and families.
At E. R. Munro, we help individuals and businesses understand their insurance options and make sure their coverage fits their needs. If you need insurance of any kind, give us a call at 877-ERMUNRO (877-376-8676), and select option 3. Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Insurance Information Institute.
Disclaimer: This post may have had a little help from AI during the brainstorming or drafting stage, but the final product was reviewed, edited, and approved by real humans here at E. R. Munro and Company. Any typos are either handcrafted for your enjoyment or artisanally curated for maximum impact.
