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U.S. Drivers as Distracted as Ever
American drivers haven't changed their use of handheld cell phones, and they are texting more than ever, according to the U.S.
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American drivers haven't changed their use of handheld cell phones, and they are texting more than ever, according to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
The department figures about 660,000 U.S. drivers are doing one or the other while driving at any moment during daylight hours.
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood says the resulting driver distraction is a "serious and deadly epidemic" that kills more than 3,300 people and causes 387,000 injuries per year.
Results of the department's latest National Occupant Protection Use Survey (for 2011) show the use of handheld cell phones remained unchanged during 2009-2011 at 5% of drivers. Texting doubled from 0.6% to 1.3% over the same period.
The study says women were 50% more likely than men (6% compared with 4%) to use a handheld phone while driving. Usage was higher for under-25 drivers (7%) than for drivers age 70 or more (2%) and everyone else (5%).
DOT notes that 39 states ban text messaging and 10 ban the use of handheld phones while driving.
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