The study analyzed nearly 17,000 crashes across four US states from 2021 to 2024. While police reports identified cellphone use in less than 1 percent of these incidents, telematics data revealed phone activity within 30 seconds of impact in 7 percent of single-vehicle crashes and 8 percent of two-vehicle crashes.
The research utilized anonymized data from safe-driving apps powered by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT). The system is capable of distinguishing between handheld calls, hands-free calls, and physical interactions such as tapping or swiping, as well as detecting if the phone screen was unlocked.
CMT states that it does not sell driving data. However, the technology can record location, movement, and crash detection, creating a detailed record of driver behavior immediately preceding an accident.
