Ask people about the biggest threat on the road, and they will usually name drunk drivers or speeders. They rarely name themselves. Yet millions of us calmly scroll through playlists or check texts at red lights. We convince ourselves that our screen habit is minor, harmless, and under control.

New data show we are in deep denial. The assumptions we make about road safety are completely disconnected from reality. Our internal justification for checking “just one notification” is costing thousands of lives.