Study: Texting while driving increased by 50 percent over 2010

December 8, 2011 By Mike Flacy

While 35 states have successfully passed legislation regarding a ban on texting while operating a vehicle, that hasn't stopped drivers from typing text messages while behind the wheel of a car.

According to an article posted by the Wall Street Journal earlier today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that texting while driving increased from 2009 to 2010. The NHSTA performs this study each year by watching intersections and stoplights for anyone that’s operating a smartphone or other handheld device to send text messages in addition to other functions like reading and typing email, watching video, playing games, viewing GPS location or simply browsing the Internet. The study found that nearly one percent were spending time with a mobile device while operating the vehicle.

According to the study, the amount of people texting while driving in 2009 came in at 0.6 percent and the 2010 figure rose to 0.9 percent. With approximately 210 million licensed drivers in the United States according to Federal Highway Administration, that means an additional 630,000 licensed drivers potentially took up texting while operating a vehicle over 2010. The NHTSA also conducted a phone survey among 6,000 drivers above the age of 18 and found that 18 percent admitted to sending emails or text messages while behind the wheel. Among drivers between the ages of 21 to 24, approximately 50 percent admit to sending texts while driving.

The researchers also found that the majority of drivers will accept a call while driving and continue to talk on the phone navigating the road. A study conducted earlier this year also found that hands-free cell phone usage is equally as dangerous while driving. The NHTSA also launched pilot programs in the Northeast to discourage cell phone use while driving by increasing the number of tickets issued for texting while behind the wheel and promoting a public awareness campaign on the subject. After the program ended, researchers found a vast decrease in the number of people talking on phones as well as anyone attempting to type a text message while driving.

Showing 9 comments

Kim Ley at 9:12pm 14th December 2011 instead of outfitting phones with locking apps to keep people from texting (we all know they would only cause more accidents trying to get the phone unlocked) they should just outfit all vehicles with manual transmissions. if people have to shift in traffic, they will not be as able to text, and if they are too stupid to be able to drive a stick shift, then they won't be driving and can just text to their hearts content.here is something to ponder.... if you are driving a car and see somebody texting while they are driving, and you shoot them, would it not be considered self defense?
This Wired House at 2:10am 11th December 2011 And this study was done while observing drivers at stoplights and intersections. That's not driving, that's stopping. Isn't it better to text while at a stoplight? Another useless study our taxes paid for. Since they can't do a study that applies to actual driving, this is the best they can do to justify imposing more fines to collect revenue.
1. Kim Ley at 9:16pm 14th December 2011 more times than not, when you see somebody texting at a stoplight, they were already doing it when they pulled up to that light. i see it happening everyday. as a motorcycle rider, i find this trend very disturbing and scary to think there are so many people on the road who lack the common sense to know they shouldn't be texting or tweeting or updating their facebook status while operating a 3600 pound weapon.
Chris Byam at 8:11pm 9th December 2011 no
Daniel Hsieh at 4:07pm 9th December 2011 texting while on the road should be as follows: if you're moving at an unhuman speed (trackable by GPS), the texting app will ask you answer the question: "are you driving?". If you lie (verbally indicate or press yes), this will be used against you in court if you are involved in an accident. If you're not driving, the texting app will open up its interface and allow you to type.
Jared Sirilo at 8:40am 9th December 2011 Jason its not just teens its every age group.
Jason Hopwood at 7:29am 9th December 2011 Deaths increased from teens on the road, driving, did you notice!?!?
Damon Schmitt at 6:57am 9th December 2011 Whatever people do, you can bet they'll do it in the car - actually behind the wheel if they think they can get away with it.
1. Kim Ley at 9:19pm 14th December 2011 lol i saw some woman the other day driving down the road with her laptop laying on the steering wheel and she was watching a video on you tube. she was also drinking coffee and trying to steer with the other hand that she wasn't using to hold her laptop straight.