In the United States, where driving while using telephones without hands-free adaptor kits and texting at the wheel are not widely illegal, one in four people confesses to texting and driving, a survey found Wednesday. “We often like to say 26 percent of people admit to driving while texting. We are sure that underestimates the problem,” said Dave Grannan, of Vlingo, a mobile voice application company that polled 4,800 people.
Vlingo says it is the inventor of “voice user interface” technology allowing people to “control their mobile phones with the power of voice” instead of punching buttons. The company said the poll has a plus or minus 1.41 percent sampling error.
The news comes as those polled revealed that texting — often seen as more typical behavior for young people — generally has spread to older people: 60 percent of all mobile phone users are texting, the survey found. And that means more people potentially texting at the wheel, currently only banned in seven US states and the capital city.
Twenty-six percent of those surveyed said they could not resist a bit of texting while driving, it found. The Hall of Shame went to Tennessee where 42 percent admit to indulging in the dangerous behavior. And “in our survey, the youngest and least experienced drivers those 16 to 19, they admit by 66 percent driving while texting. That’s scary,” said Grannan.
“Despite more states adding the laws, and despite some high profile accidents, people are still driving while texting at the same rate they were a year ago,” he said, noting: “we would have thought it would go down because of the public awareness and public policy.” Last year, authorities in Los Angeles said the conductor of a train involved in a rail crash that left 25 people dead was sending text messages on his mobile phone during working hours.
Anyone who reads this blog should know that I am the last person to recommend more nanny state control. However, I ride a motorcycle almost daily and the number of times I have been cut off or had a car pull out in front of me is getting ridiculous. As a biker I fear for my life. Depending on the results of this poll, I may or may not give up my motorcycle obsession.
I answered the phone while driving exactly one time and I could hardly believe how much more difficult it was to drive. I’m _never_ doing that again. I’ll pull over first, or at least say “Wait a sec while I pull over,” then talk.
Mr. Mc C, I think you should give up the bike, its just too dangerous to be commuting daily on a bike nowadays. maybe you could get a dirt bike to ride for fun or just use your street machine on “sunday rides” but no more daily commutes, think of your family.
There is sooooo much more stupid stuff that should be banned first. Like allowing passengers to ride in the bed of a pickup or having your dog on your lap while you drive. Why are we becoming a nation of Pansies?
I think (perhaps hope) that all of this activity will die out with the next generation. Just as CB Radios did after the 1970s. For a time, eveyone had to have them in their car. Even if they didn’t use them (just in case they needed to). And I knew people who’d gossip for hours on base stations (guys!), without saying anything of any real importance. I could pick up their chatter on by stereo, you see. I think all this Texting is the same way, now.
And some day, the kids will think the older generation is weird for doing this stuff. And maybe live video phoning will be its replacement. Which probably won’t make driving any safer. But maybe cars will steer themselves by then.