Using mobile devices to check Super Bowl scores while driving significantly increases accident risks; refrain from touching down on phones during the game.
The Super Bowl, known for its electrifying moments, record-breaking performances, and highly anticipated commercials, captivated an audience of over 100 million people in 2024. However, the event also saw a significant increase in distracted driving, according to a fresh analysis from CMT.
Distracted driving rates began creeping upward at 6:00 p.m., perfectly mirroring the game's major moments, and remained elevated until 11:00 p.m. By 7:00 p.m., distraction hit its peak, with drivers spending an average of 2 minutes and 42 seconds per hour on their phones. This is higher than the usual Sunday baseline.
The flood of notifications, messages, and breaking news created the perfect storm for increased phone use on the road during the Super Bowl. Some drivers streamed the game live while driving, while others were texting about the game, checking the score, rewatching ads, or scrolling through gossip.
Distracted driving remains a major cause of traffic fatalities and injuries. For example, distracted driving accounts for about one in every six deadly vehicle accidents, and texting drivers are 23 times more likely to cause an accident, according to general statistics from 2025.
Major events such as the Super Bowl often raise concerns about increased distracted and impaired driving. Past research and safety campaigns focus on the holiday and large public event periods as times when risks can increase due to distracted behavior from phone use, socializing, and impaired driving.
However, the search results do not include an analysis or dataset specific to distracted driving trends or crash statistics on Super Bowl Sunday 2024 itself. If you seek authoritative data on this specific date and topic, checking with national traffic safety agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), or local traffic law enforcement and public safety departments may provide detailed crash and distracted driving incident reports post-event.
It's crucial to remember that no viral moment, touchdown, or highlight is worth risking a life during the Super Bowl. During the game, drivers spent more time interacting with their screens compared to a typical Sunday. CMT defines "screen interaction" as any instance where a driver taps their phone while moving at speeds above 9 mph.
To ensure safety on the roads, it's essential to stay focused on the road, keep your phone down, and prioritize safety. This Super Bowl, let's make sure the only records broken are on the field, not on the road.
Football games, such as the Super Bowl, can lead to a rise in screen interaction while driving, with many drivers interacting with their phones more than usual during the game. This increased phone use is a major cause of distracted driving, which remains a significant factor in traffic fatalities and injuries.
