Here's the best gift you can give millions of others on the road

<p><p>None of us should be surprised that millions of Americans will be traveling on the road during this next week. What might surprise you is the simple gift of safety that we can give each other by staying focused on the road and not on our phones.</p><p>Distracted driving on Christmas Day surges to the highest levels of any day of the year. U.S. drivers spend more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds per hour interacting with their phones on Christmas Day, according to a <a href="https://www.cmtelematics.com/who-we-are/">recent study published by Cambridge Mobile Telematics</a>.</p><p>Driver distraction on Christmas and New Year's Days have contributed to 2,960 crashes, 1,660 injuries and 14 deaths during the past four years, according CMT estimates. They estimate, using National Highway Traffic Safety Estimates, that distracted and drunk drivers killed nearly the same number of people in 2021.</p><p><strong>On the road:</strong><a href="/story/news/weather/2024/11/27/why-do-road-signs-warn-about-icy-bridges/76592089007/">This confusing road sign warns of a hidden winter weather danger</a></p><h2>How much distracted driving increases during holidays and events</h2><a href="https://infogram.com/_/1Y6GePN9uDA08RGo6yAy"></a><p>Unable to view our graphics? <a href="/story/graphics/2024/12/24/christmas-travel-dangers-distracted-driving/77181375007/">Click here to see them</a>.</p><p>CMT started using mobile phone sensors to track driver distractions as far back as 2013. The Cambridge, Massachusetts, company now combines a variety of data points from smartphones and their apps to car sensors. Their AI platform helps to generate a detailed picture of car safety, in which phone use figures prominently.</p><p>So with record numbers of people traveling this week, drivers could face more dangerous situations on America's roads. AAA estimates nearly 119.33 million people will be traveling from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. The majority, 107 million — near 2019's high of 108 million – will be driving more than 50 miles.</p><img width="100%" /><h2>Most-used apps while Americans are driving</h2><p>So what's capturing our attention while we're on the road? CMT data show drivers handled their phones 1:30 minutes for every hour they drove in 2023. CMT asked 1,200 U.S. drivers which apps they used while they are driving. The 30 most common:</p><a href="https://infogram.com/_/yb5APGeNyDpZiJPEBepn"></a><h2>The best times to drive during this week and next</h2><p>If you're looking to avoid as many drivers as possible (distracted or not), <a href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2024/11/nearly-80-million-americans-expected-to-travel-over-thanksgiving/">AAA offers the best and worst travel times</a> in general for the next few days. Interestingly, AAA says Christmas and New Year's Days have fewer traffic issues than the other days — besides the distracted drivers.</p><p>◾ <strong>Thu, Dec. 26 |</strong> Best: Before 11 a.m. | Worst: 12-5 p.m.</p><p>◾ <strong>Fri, Dec. 27 |</strong> Best: Before 2 p.m. | Worst: 3-7 p.m.</p><p>◾ <strong>Sat, Dec. 28 |</strong> Best: Before 11 a.m. | Worst: 1:30-7 p.m.</p><p>◾ <strong>Sun, Dec. 29 |</strong> Best: Before 11 a.m. | Worst: 12-6 p.m.</p><p>◾ <strong>Mon, Dec. 30 |</strong> Best: Before 2 p.m. | Worst: 5-7 p.m.</p><p>◾ <strong>Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 |</strong> AAA estimates minimal traffic snarls</p><p>◾ <strong>Thu, Jan. 2 |</strong> Best: Before 3 p.m. | Worst: 4-8 p.m.</p></p>