In the previous month, Geoff Glaab found himself at a traffic light in Louisville, Kentucky, where he observed a driver two lanes away engrossed in a YouTube video demonstrating how to dismantle a car engine. The driver had the volume set at a high level, making the audio distinctly audible to Glaab. While waiting at the traffic light, Glaab observed the driver consistently looking down at their phone.
Glaab, who predominantly relies on walking or biking for transportation, shared that he encounters “more than my fair share of distracted drivers.” However, he informed Motherboard that he has recently observed a surge in individuals watching videos and FaceTiming while operating a vehicle.
“I can’t pinpoint when people started thinking this was a good idea, but here we are,” remarked Glaab.
Remarkably, in Kentucky, it is entirely legal for drivers to watch YouTube or any other video while driving. The state explicitly prohibits texting while driving, with exemptions for GPS usage and dialing phone numbers. Moreover, there are no restrictions on browsing social media or engaging in other app-like functions. In a 2015 Courier Journal article discussing the challenges of enforcing the texting-while-driving ban, state trooper Paul Blanton highlighted, “The way the law is written, you could be driving down the road playing Angry Birds.”
While Kentucky stands out as an extreme case with lax distracted driving laws, it is not an isolated instance. Many states enacted laws during the peak concern about texting while driving, with all states except Montana implementing some form of texting ban. Additionally, 27 states prohibit hand-held phone conversations. However, these laws were crafted at a time when streaming video on phones was not as prevalent, and wireless network speeds were not conducive to such activities while driving. Consequently, many of these laws are, at best, vague regarding the legality of watching video content while driving.
The issue of “distracted driving” gained prominence in the mid-2000s with the widespread use of cell phones. Experts unanimously agree that distracted driving is hazardous, with some studies likening it to driving under the influence. Despite numerous public service advisories, advertising campaigns, and educational initiatives, the number of deaths in distracted driving crashes remained relatively steady at 3,522 in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a trend observed since 2010. However, distracted driving rates continue to rise due to the prevalence of phones mounted in front of drivers and the incorporation of large screens in new cars, compatible with streaming services and gaming devices. Some individuals are even taking it to extremes by watching full-length videos, live TV, Netflix, and other streaming content while driving.
In recent months, I personally witnessed four drivers watching videos as their vehicles passed by, easily noticeable as their phones were mounted on the dashboard. One was watching football, another baseball, and the remaining two were engrossed in some obscure videos I couldn’t discern. Two Motherboard staff members shared experiences of being in Ubers where drivers were watching TV on iPads mounted next to the center console. In response, Uber spokesperson Gabi Condarco stated, “When signing up for the Uber platform, couriers and drivers agree to our Community Guidelines, which clearly state drivers are expected to maintain an environment that makes riders feel safe, and reports of dangerous driving may result in account deactivation.”
The surge in watching videos while driving is not merely anecdotal evidence. In the past year, a survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on distracted driving revealed that approximately 25 percent of drivers acknowledged watching movies, TV shows, or video clips while driving at some point in the last 30 days, with around 15 percent admitting to doing so regularly. Moreover, about 20 percent reported making video calls regularly in the previous month, and roughly 15 percent recorded and posted videos. While public service campaigns commonly associate “distracted driving” with teens, millennials aged 25-34 exhibited the highest rates of watching videos, playing games, and scrolling through social media while driving. Notably, gig economy workers, such as rideshare drivers, reported being four times more likely to engage in distracted driving behavior, likely due to the central role of smartphones in their work.
There are two categories of laws addressing the act of watching videos while driving, as explained by IIHS Assistant General Counsel Danielle Wolfe. The first pertains to distracted driving laws specifically targeting cell phone use. Currently, eight states—Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and West Virginia—explicitly prohibit watching videos while driving under these electronic device laws. Another four states—Connecticut, DC, Washington, Wisconsin—arguably ban it, as their laws define distracted driving as anything diverting attention from the driving task.
Additionally, 35 states enforce prohibitions on screens within the driver’s line of sight, as explained by Wolfe. However, some, including New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and South Dakota, specifically target television and television broadcasts, potentially excluding internet videos or FaceTiming. Other states, like Oregon, Utah, and Texas, have screen-in-view laws, but the language may not encompass phones or tablets mounted on dashboards as they reference vehicles “equipped” with specific characteristics or vehicles with screens “installed.”
In summary, Motherboard’s investigation revealed that 18 states unequivocally prohibit watching videos on phones while driving, 19 may do so depending on legal interpretation, and 14 almost certainly do not have such prohibitions in place.
However, the existence of a law doesn’t guarantee that people will cease engaging in a particular behavior. Texting while driving is prohibited in every state except Montana, yet a significant number of individuals continue to do so, with almost 50 percent, as indicated by the IIHS study. Nevertheless, these bans have been linked to a decrease in emergency room visits related to vehicle crashes and are generally acknowledged for contributing to a reduction in texting while driving overall.
Joseph Young, spokesperson for IIHS, informed Motherboard that he is not familiar with any research specifically correlating watching videos to a specific level of crash risk. However, he added, “it isn’t a significant leap to assume that drivers watching videos or participating in video calls will divert their attention from the road more frequently, a factor known to elevate the risk of accidents.”
