Distracted driving is a significant factor influencing traffic accidents. Current research primarily focuses on identifying distracted behaviors among drivers, while the investigation into accident mechanisms remains limited. To improve highway driving safety, the coupling relationships among drivers, vehicles, roads, and environments were explored, based on traffic accident data in a specific region. Utilizing association rule algorithms, seasonal variations in accident occurrences were analyzed, and potential patterns of distracted driving accidents were explored from multiple perspectives. The results show that accidents caused by driver distraction exhibit certain temporal and spatial patterns, with a higher frequency during weekday commuting peak hours and identifiable accident-prone locations. Regardless of season, distracted driving accidents tend to occur more frequently on straight road segments under favorable weather conditions. The severity of accidents predominantly involves property damage or injuries, with a low proportion of fatalities. Differences in accident causation and occurrence patterns are observed between summer and winter distracted driving accidents. These findings provide valuable insights for traffic managers to develop innovative policies and enhance road safety.