Hang up and drive

A recent Harris Poll shows that most Americans use cell phones while driving even while knowing of the dangers.

Harris Interactive surveyed 2,681 U.S. adults in mid-May, with 72% of those who drive and own cell phones use them to talk while driving. In its press release, Harris also notes a 2003 Harvard Center of Risk Analysis study showing that cell phone use while driving contributed to 6% of crashes, which equated to 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths each year.

“These findings support the views of the National Safety Council that most drivers ignore the evidence about the risks of using cell phones and the advice of safety experts,” Harris noted in its statement.

Other findings of the Harris Poll include:
• Most of people (66%) say they usually use hand-held rather than hands-free telephones to talk;

• Even in states that have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, half (49%) of cell phone users use hand-held, rather than hands-free, phones;

• Only 2% of those who use cell phones while driving believe this is not dangerous at all. Most believe it is very dangerous (26%), dangerous (24%) or somewhat dangerous (33%);

• A 71% majority of those who use cell phones while driving believes that hands-free cell phones are safer than hand-held phones (even though some research suggest otherwise);

• Younger drivers are more likely than older drivers to talk on the phone while driving. Most (58%) “Matures” (people older than Baby Boomers, currently aged 64 or over) who drive and own cell phones say they do not use their cell phones while driving; and,

• A quarter of drivers with cell phones report using them to send or receive text messages while driving, although a large majority (74%) does not.