Key Facts (At-a-Glance)
- 72% of Northwest residents say illegal phone use while driving should be viewed as seriously as driving under the influence.
- 48% of drivers admit they’ve used their phone behind the wheel even when they knew it was illegal.
- 36% say their own distracted driving has resulted in a near-miss or close call.
SEATTLE, Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, nearly three-quarters of Northwest residents agree that illegal phone use while driving should be viewed as seriously as driving under the influence — yet, almost half of drivers admit they use their phone behind the wheel even when they know it's against the law.
PEMCO’s latest poll of Washington and Oregon drivers found that despite recognizing the dangers of distracted driving, many drivers don’t shift their behavior. Of the nearly half (48%) who fess up to illegally using their phone, about one in four (23%) say they talk without hands-free technology at least sometimes, and 17% say they text while driving sometimes, as well.
“Most drivers understand that using a phone behind the wheel can have serious consequences, but our poll shows there can still be a gap between knowing the risk and actually changing our behavior,” said Jennifer Hawton, spokesperson for PEMCO. “It only takes a moment of distraction for conditions on the road to change, so putting the phone away is one of the simplest things we can all do to help keep ourselves and others safe.”
The findings come nearly a decade after a 2018 PEMCO Northwest Poll found that stricter distracted driving laws were influencing driver behavior. At the time, 63% of drivers said harsher laws had made them more cautious about distractions behind the wheel. Today, however, among drivers who say they use their phone while driving despite knowing it’s illegal, 35% do it because they don’t think they’ll get caught.
The poll also found good news: while a previous survey found that 51% of Northwest drivers admitted to using their phone because they thought it “wasn’t too dangerous,” just one in five (19%) today say the same.
To learn more about this PEMCO Northwest Poll, visit www.go.pemco.com/nw-poll-distracted-driving.
About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll
PEMCO Mutual Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by Qualtrics, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 489 respondents in the Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish, Pierce Counties) region, 329 respondents in the Portland Metro (Multnomah, Clark, Clackamas, Washington Counties) yields an accuracy of +/- 3.4% respectively at the 95% confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.
About PEMCO Mutual Insurance
PEMCO Mutual Insurance has been serving the Pacific Northwest since 1949. PEMCO provides auto, home, renters, boat coverage and pet insurance. We’re proud to be named one of America’s Best Insurance Companies by Forbes for five straight years and recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces in 2026. We distinguish ourselves through award-winning customer service, industry expertise, and social impact programs focused on supporting youth and education, and community impact programs that build a safer, stronger Pacific Northwest. To learn more, visit www.pemco.com.
CONTACTS: Jennifer Hawton PEMCO Mutual Insurance 206.628.5773 Jennifer.hawton@pemco.com Kristi Herriott Firmani + Associates Inc. 206.466.2702
