Phone Use While Speeding Study: What IIHS Found

What the New IIHS Study Found in 2026

The April 2026 IIHS preprint on cellphone manipulation and speeding studied whether handheld phone manipulation changed as drivers traveled faster than the posted speed limit. The study used trip data from drivers using a smartphone-based telematics platform.

The key finding is simple: greater speeding was associated with more handheld cellphone manipulation. That does not mean every speeding driver is texting. It means drivers who exceeded the speed limit more also showed higher rates of phone manipulation in this dataset.

The 593,454-Trip Telematics Sample

IIHS researchers analyzed 593,454 trips recorded from July through October 2024. The data came from Cambridge Mobile Telematics and included 35,000 to 40,000 trips per U.S. Census region each month.

The researchers used models to predict cellphone manipulation rates based on road speed limits and how fast vehicles were traveling compared with those limits. They also studied limited-access roads separately from primary and collector roads.

How Speed Increases Related to Phones

The study found that every 5 mph increase above the speed limit was associated with increased cellphone manipulation. The relationship was stronger when speed limits were higher and when drivers were on limited-access roads.

This is important for families because faster roads already leave less time to react. Adding phone handling to a speeding event can make a risky moment more complex, even if the driver only looks away briefly.

Why Faster Roads Make This Finding Important

Many people assume drivers are more likely to handle phones at lower speeds, such as stop-and-go traffic or city streets. The IIHS finding challenges that assumption. It suggests phone manipulation can also increase when drivers are exceeding speed limits on faster roads.

The Stronger Link on Limited-Access Roads

IIHS found the speeding and phone-manipulation relationship was nearly four times stronger on limited-access roads than on primary or collector roads. Limited-access roads often include highways and roads with fewer intersections, driveways and traffic signals.

One possible explanation is that drivers may feel the road is simpler when traffic is flowing and there are fewer interruptions. That feeling can create a false sense of safety, even while speed is increasing.

Why Brief Phone Handling Matters at Speed

A short phone interaction can matter more at higher speeds. When a vehicle is moving fast, it covers more distance every second. A quick glance or hand movement can mean missing a brake light, a lane change or a slowing vehicle ahead.

The NHTSA speeding safety resource says speeding increases stopping distance and crash severity. In 2024, NHTSA reports 11,288 people died in speeding-related traffic deaths.

Phone Manipulation Is Not Always Texting

The study uses the term handheld cellphone manipulation. That can include actions such as tapping, swiping, unlocking, picking up or otherwise interacting with a phone. It should not be treated as proof that a driver was texting.

This difference matters for parents. If an app shows a phone-use concern, the next step should be a calm conversation. It should not start with an accusation.

What Parents Should Avoid Assuming

The study is useful, but families should understand its limits. Good safety conversations depend on fair interpretation. A single speeding or phone alert should not become a full judgment of a teen’s character or intent.

One Event Does Not Explain Intent

A phone-use signal does not automatically explain what happened. The driver may have touched the phone, moved it, adjusted a mount or interacted with a screen. The safest family response is to ask first, then coach.

Parents can say, “The trip showed a phone-use concern while you were driving. What was happening there?” This keeps the conversation focused on safety and facts.

The Study Was Not Only Teen Drivers

The IIHS preprint studied a broad telematics dataset. It was not limited to teen drivers. Parents should avoid saying, “This proves teens do this.” The better point is that the risk is relevant to anyone driving fast roads.

For a licensed teen or new driver, the finding is still helpful. It gives families a reason to discuss two habits together: staying within speed limits and keeping the phone away during the drive.

Association Does Not Prove Direct Cause

The study found an association. It does not prove that speeding directly causes phone handling, or that phone handling directly causes speeding. Both may be linked to driver confidence, road conditions, traffic flow, stress or risk-taking habits.

That is why alerts should be used for coaching. OtoZen Driving Alerts can help families notice patterns, but the conversation still needs context and trust.

Practical Family Steps After This Research

The best use of new research is not fear. It is better preparation. Parents can use the IIHS finding to update family driving rules before a teen takes faster roads alone.

Make Phone-Free Driving Clear

Families should make one rule simple: no phone handling while driving. Navigation, music and messages should be set before the car moves. If a message feels urgent, the driver should pull over safely before touching the phone.

The NHTSA distracted driving resource reports that 3,208 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2024. That context makes phone-free driving a family safety rule, not a parent preference.

Review Speeding After the Trip

Speeding should be reviewed after the drive, not during an argument. Parents can look for patterns: the same road, the same time of day, or the same kind of trip. Patterns are easier to coach than isolated moments.

For a practical comparison of tools, read OtoZen’s related guide: Best Apps to Monitor Driving Speed in 2026.

Discuss Faster Roads Before Solo Drives

Before a teen drives a highway or limited-access road alone, discuss what makes faster roads different. The teen should understand that higher speed means less reaction time, longer stopping distance and less room for phone distraction.

Parents can keep the message short: “On faster roads, speed and phone use cannot mix. Set everything before you drive.”

How OtoZen Driving Alerts Help Families

OtoZen is designed to help families move from guessing to coaching. Driving Alerts give parents and drivers trip-based safety visibility, so conversations can focus on real patterns instead of assumptions.

Set Up OtoZen Before the Drive

1. Download OtoZen: Install the app before independent driving becomes routine.
2. Add trusted family connections: Keep safety visibility limited to the right people.
3. Review app permissions: Set up alerts and location permissions while parked.
4. Agree on driving rules: No phone handling, no speeding and no replies while driving.
5. Review trips calmly: Use alerts after the drive for coaching, not punishment.

Families can also review OtoZen’s driving safety features to understand how alerts, trip reports and location tools work together.

What Families Can Experience

When alerts are used fairly, families often have better conversations. A parent does not need to guess whether speeding happened. A teen does not need to feel accused without context.

OtoZen gives families a shared starting point. The parent can ask what happened, the teen can explain, and both can agree on what should change before the next drive.

How to Talk About Alerts Without Blame

Driving alerts are only helpful if families use them well. A harsh reaction can make teens defensive. A calm review can make the same alert feel like coaching.

Start With the Road, Not the Teen

Instead of saying, “You were careless,” try saying, “That road is fast, and the alert shows a risky moment. Let’s talk about what happened.” This keeps the focus on the situation and the habit.

The new IIHS research gives parents a timely way to explain why both risks matter together. Faster roads leave less room for phone handling.

Use One Clear Rule for Next Time

After reviewing an alert, end with one clear action. For example: “On the highway, the phone stays mounted and untouched.” Or: “If you need to change music, do it before leaving.”

Simple rules are easier for teens to remember than long lectures. They also help parents avoid repeating the same argument.

Praise Safe Patterns Too

Parents should not only bring up alerts when something goes wrong. Safe trips deserve attention too. If a teen completes several faster-road drives with no speeding or phone-use concerns, say so.

Positive feedback helps safe driving feel like progress, not surveillance.

Final Thoughts for Parents and Teens

The new IIHS finding gives families a clear reason to discuss speeding and phone handling together. These risks may show up in the same drive, especially on faster roads. That makes them worth discussing before a teen drives independently on highways or other limited-access routes.

Parents should not use one alert to assume intent. Teens should not treat a quick phone interaction as harmless. The better approach is shared: set phone-free rules, review speeding patterns and use trip-based information for calm coaching.

OtoZen Driving Alerts can help families see risky moments, talk with more context and build safer habits over time.

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