Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Texting Increases 30% During Holidays

People text and use apps while behind the wheel over 30% more during the winter holidays as compared with an average weekday, according to data collected and analyzed by TrueMotion, a smartphone telematics company.

November 30, 2018
Texting Increases 30% During Holidays

Texting while driving increases about 30% during the holidays, a new report has found.

Photo via U.S. Air Force.

2 min to read


People text and use apps while behind the wheel over 30% more during the winter holidays as compared with an average weekday, according to data collected and analyzed by TrueMotion, a smartphone telematics company. 

TrueMotion collects driving data using smartphone telematics and analyzes it with machine-learning algorithms.

Ad Loading...

From Nov. 18, 2017 to Jan. 3, the company collected and evaluated data from over 3,000 drivers in the U.S. who had downloaded and used TrueMotion's safety app. The findings indicate that motorists have more to be concerned about on the roadways at holiday time than just snow — distracted drivers could be an even greater danger.

While on an average weekday drivers spend approximately 9% of their time actively using their phones — texting, emailing, using social media — that figure jumps to 12% during the holidays, representing an increase of 33%.

Active phone use while driving was up nearly 50% on Thanksgiving compared to a typical weekday. Christmas saw the second highest increase with 33%. New Year's Eve was the lowest of the group, with a 26% bump.

The findings also showed that motorists tend to speed during the holidays as a well. While drivers speed approximately 25% of time on an average weekday, the app indicated they speed a whopping 45% of the time during the holidays.

Thanksgiving ranks first with drivers speeding 52% more compared to a regular weekday, followed by Christmas (44% more) and New Year's Day (40% more).

Ad Loading...

One positive finding: Despite texting and speeding more often during the holidays, drivers made fewer phone calls — whether handheld or hands-free — from behind the wheel. Compared to the average weekday, holiday road calls were down 45%.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Safety

Futuristic image of tractor trailer and sensors detecting a car it is approaching at dusk.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 24, 2026

Freightliner Expands Detroit Assurance Safety Features for Cascadia

Detroit Assurance with Active Break Assist 6 (ABA6) will be standard on Freightliner Cascadias built starting in December 2026 and will feature Cross Traffic Assist and Active Side Guard Assist 2 with left turn protection.

Read More →
Side view of a man in a truck cab with overlay of logo for LightMetrics.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 22, 2026

LightMetrics Introduces ΦFP AI Layer Filter for Safety Alerts

LightMetrics has launched ΦFP, a new cloud AI layer that filters every driver safety alert before it reaches a fleet manager, eliminating the false alarms.

Read More →
A group of Atwell employees gather indoors for a team photo, standing together
Safetyby Lauren FletcherApril 21, 2026

What Fleets Can Learn from Listening to Drivers

What happens when drivers help shape specs, safety, and fleet programs? Atwell’s Crystal Zile shares how feedback led to smarter fleet decisions.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man talking in front of a blue tinted background image of a large truck with logos for Truck Chat and Work Truck and yellow headline Detroit Assurance & Upfitting.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 15, 2026

How Detroit Assurance Adapts to Unique Upfits

Mike Young, of Daimler Truck North America, will walk us through how Detroit Assurance safety systems can adapt to work around upfits that could block the radar or cameras.

Read More →
Pavement background with double yellow lines and large text that says Recall, April, and Work Truck logo.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 9, 2026

Recalls You Need to Know About in April 2026

If you have Altec, Braun, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Hino, Mack Trucks, Mitsubishi Fuso, Orange EV, Terex, Toyota, or Volvo Trucks vehicles in your fleet, you should check these important recalls issued by the National Highway Safety Administration.

Read More →
Computer screenshot showing two graphics and an image of a man.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 8, 2026

Samsara Launches New AI Coaching Features to Transform Fleet Safety at Scale

Now, drivers have holistic coverage provided by Samsara Coach before, during, and after their shift. This includes start-of-the-day audio briefings to help predict road risk, on-the-road support through two-way audio coaching, and post-trip support through AI Avatar.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Background image of a rainy windshield and brake lights with logos for Truck Chat and Work Truck and a headline How Lytx Prepares Fleets for Severe Weather.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamApril 8, 2026

How Lytx Prepares Fleets for Severe Weather

Let’s learn more about how Lytx uses Dynamic Risk to provide real-time alerts, coaching, and operational support for fleets facing severe weather driving conditions. Brendon Hill, senior vice president of product at Lytx, walks us through how it all works.

Read More →
Darkened background image of congested traffic with large Nauto logo in front.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseApril 2, 2026

Nauto Available as Order Now Partner on Geotab Marketplace

Nauto's AI-powered dash cam solutions are accessible via the Geotab Marketplace, enabling fleets to easily deploy its AI-enabled safety platform directly through Geotab.

Read More →
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

Future-Proofing Fleet Tech with Modular Mounting

Technology cycles move faster than vehicle rotations. Discover how modular mounting infrastructure protects your investment and reduces fleet-wide downtime.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredMarch 30, 2026

Improving Jobsite Safety and Uptime with Advanced Driver-Assist Technology

Safer crews. Fewer incidents. Better uptime. Learn how driver-assist technology is changing the way vocational fleets operate.

Read More →