Study: Texting While Driving Is Like an Addiction (Video)

People who text while driving display addiction-like behavior that makes it difficult for them to stop, according to a study commissioned by AT&T.

Study co-sponsor Dr. David Greenfield, founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction at the University of Connecticut, says texting produces elevated levels of the neurochemical dopamine, which produces a feeling of happiness.

He points out that 90% of drivers surveyed agree texting while driving is dangerous. But those who say they text anyway rationalize their behavior, a classic trait of addicts. Dr. Greenfield also is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the university.

The study is part of AT&T's "It Can Wait" campaign to coax drivers not to text when they're behind the wheel. AT&T produced a video that powerfully demonstrates the dangers of texting while driving and can be seen here. The company also is offering a free DriveMode app for smartphones that silences incoming text message alerts and automatically responds so the sender knows the recipient is driving.

The app activates when vehicle speed surpasses 15 mph and turns off shortly after the vehicle stops.