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Instagram reveals dangerous #DrivingSelfie trend

Auto Insurance Center’s exclusive study analyzed more than 70k Instagram posts with driving-related hashtags like #DrivingSelfie and #HopeIDontCrash. Company’s interactive maps provide an in-depth look at where drivers most often risk lives to post selfies while driving. 20-29-year-olds are involved in the most fatal crashes – accounting for nearly 4 in 10 fatal accidents while using cell phones. West coast drivers take the most risks according to Instagram – California and Nevada post the most #DrivingSelfies. Use of driving-related hashtags increased 80% from 2014 to 2015.

Auto Insurance Center's exclusive study analyzed more than 70k Instagram posts with driving-related hashtags like #DrivingSelfie and #HopeIDontCrash. Company's interactive maps provide an in-depth look at where drivers most often risk lives to post selfies while driving.

  • 20-29-year-olds are involved in the most fatal crashes – accounting for nearly 4 in 10 fatal accidents while using cell phones.
  • West coast drivers take the most risks according to Instagram – California and Nevada post the most #DrivingSelfies.
  • Use of driving-related hashtags increased 80% from 2014 to 2015. This year, drivers have already posted more than half of last year’s total.

Analyzing #DrivingSelfie and #Driving-related posts is as sobering as it is interesting. Instagrammers in the West (especially Hawaii, California, and Nevada) post more than their share of these photos, as do drivers in Florida. Midwesterners and Southerners post the fewest overall. Weekends and springtime are the most popular times for #Driving-related posts – and based on the high number of posts in 2016, it appears the risky practice will only become more pervasive.

We all know the perils of talking and texting while driving. It turns out snapping and posting selfies can be even riskier. According to AAA, a driver’s eyes may leave the road for two seconds to snap a selfie, and in that time a car can travel 176 feet at 60 mph – nearly the length of two basketball courts. And capturing a video for Instagram – which now allows footage of up to 60 seconds – can distract drivers for much, much longer.

Play it safe on the road by vowing to keep your eyes off your phone. If you’re tempted to text, tweet, or snap a selfie, stash your phone out of reach while you drive (the backseat is a good spot), and pull over if you need to use it. You can also download apps that lock phones while you’re driving. Your life – and the life of others – is so much more important than posting a photo on social media.

News Editor - TravelDailyNews Media Network | + Posts

Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.

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