General Motors (GM) and GHSA are collaborating to reduce distracted driving by providing research and resources to help the State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs), their partners and other safety stakeholders combat this persistent but preventable problem.
Since 2024, GHSA and GM have provided $785,000 in grants to states to implement promising approaches to fight distracted driving. This year, GHSA awarded two grants totaling $200,000 to the State Highway Safety Offices in Alaska and Washington to support innovative projects that use telematics insights, digital engagement and research-supported strategies to improve distracted driving prevention and strengthen youth and community safety programs.
Building upon the success of last year’s campaign, GHSA is continuing their partnership with Youthcast Media Group (YMG), a nonprofit that trains high school and college students from underserved communities, more than 95% of whom are youth of color, to write about and report on overlooked health and social issues such as traffic safety.
In 2024, YMG worked with high school student journalists to highlight data illustrating the extent of the problem and show the personal toll of distracted driving through profiles of victims and their families. This year, YMG will work with these student journalists to highlight data illustrating the extent of the problem and show the personal toll of distracted driving through profiles of victims and their families.
In 2024, YMG youth developed a digital toolkit that includes social media posts that SHSOs and their partners can use to engage with 16- to 24-year-olds.
GHSA partnered with Youthcast Media Group (YMG) and social media influencers to help raise awareness about the risks of drowsy driving. Through a partnership with YMG, high school and college student journalists created social media content highlighting the scope and personal impact of drowsy driving, which has been compiled in a toolkit available on the GHSA website. Influencers included Dr. Kim VanDusen, who reaches parents managing busy schedules; Amber Gardner, a nurse practitioner who speaks to shift workers; and Stephanie Howell, a book publisher who connects with individuals balancing demanding careers and family life.
GHSA recruited social media influencers and professional and college athletes to help spread the distraction-free message to their fans and followers during Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April. They included NASCAR driver and safety advocate Ross Chastain; Adrian Wood, Ph.D., an author, speaker, and blogger who posts updates on her life as a mother of four, including one child with special needs; Adria Thompson, a prominent dementia care educator; and three West Virginia University athletes and coaches.
Peer-to-peer messaging is an effective way to persuade others. For 2024, GHSA’s membership and staff reached out to their peers to change the social norm around distracted driving. GHSA members and staff posted videos sharing why they choose to be distraction-free and encouraged others to post videos as well.
The campaign was a tremendous success garnering support from dozens of members and many partner organizations including FCCLA, Laser Tech, Youthcast Media, SADD, Intoxalock, NRSF, National Safety Council and The Wise Drive. To view all of the videos check out the YouTube Playlist below, or click here.
Cellphones are a huge part of our lives, from the moment we wake up to the time we fall asleep. Unfortunately, our addiction to cellphones means that distracted driving is incredibly pervasive – and deadly – on U.S. roads.
Research indicates that it takes as little as 30 days of doing the same thing every day to make it routine. In April 2023, GHSA and GM encouraged all drivers to take a break from their phone whenever they get behind the wheel, with the goal of forming a lifelong safety habit.
In 2026, GHSA published Wake Up Call! Report Update: Understanding Drowsy Driving and What States Can Do to shine a spotlight on a preventable yet deadly driving behavior and outline practical, action oriented steps states can take to eliminate it.
Read the personal story of Steve Keifer, founder of The Kiefer Foundation and former president of General Motors International.
