Distracted driving is a nationwide epidemic that not only threatens the driver but everyone else on the road. Roughly nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured every day in the U.S. due to distracted driving accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Beyond the human tragedies, it is driving up insurance rates as carriers struggle to manage the growing risks. While technology is largely responsible for the recent increase in distracted driving cases as people talk, text and even livestream on their smartphones, technology also offers a potential solution to reign them in. The challenge is that a driver may not show signs of distracted driving until the worst happens. The insurance industry needs new tools to help continuously search for those signs that show a driver's vulnerabilities and risks. Using a combination of data intelligence, telematics and vehicle history data can help both carriers and customer curb distracted driving by presenting a clearer view of potentially risky driving behavior. But technology alone is not a panacea. For carriers to correctly underwrite and help their customers avoid risk, they must know — and communicate — the facts. Education, outreach, and a deeper understanding of generational differences can help carriers make the roads even safer. The following are five key ways carriers can combine technology with information to reduce distracted driving incidents.

No. 5: Raise awareness.

The key to changing driving behavior is in making drivers understand the urgency of addressing distracted driving because too few understand the extent of the epidemic. Staggering statistics can open eyes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 25% of all crashes involve some form of driver distraction, which claimed the lives of 3,166 people in 2017 alone. It's even more troubling that our youth are the predominant victims of distracted driving. The AAA found that new teen drivers are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a deadly crash, with distraction responsible for six out of 10 teen crashes. Distracted driving awareness campaigns — rich with statistics, advice, incentives, apps, social media conversation starters, and other insights — can help carriers can shift customers' attitudes perceptions toward better driving habits. Carriers can also take advantage of the increased visibility and informational resources available during Distracted Driving Awareness Month each April — and effort spearheaded by National Safety Council to recognize the dangers of and eliminate preventable deaths from distracted driving.

No. 4: Show the tangible benefits of safer driving.

Appealing to one's self-interest is a highly persuasive communication technique. The key for carriers is in talking to their customers about how avoiding distracted driving behaviors can not only keep them safe by avoiding accidents, but it can benefit them economically through discounts and other incentives. There are other benefits to safer driving that carriers can convey to customers as well, including better gas or EV mileage, reduced risk of getting a driving violation, longer tire life, and less wear and tear on the vehicle, to name a few.