Reduced texting

U.S. drivers say they are talking and texting less while driving than they did a year ago according to a new survey by Nationwide Insurance.

The survey suggests the reduction is based on a growing awareness of the dangers of texting and driving.

Of all drivers surveyed, 20% with cell phones say they text while driving, but that number jumps to 47% for drivers under the age of 35. Of those who admit to texting behind the wheel, 40% say they do it less often than they did last year.

“This is the first survey we’ve seen showing drivers making positive changes in their behavior, but there are still too many drivers who either don’t realize just how dangerous distractions behind the wheel are, or are willing to take that risk,” Nationwide noted in a statement.

Harris Interactive conducted the survey of 1,005 U.S. adults between April 20-27.

Nationwide’s first DWD survey (conducted in 2007 by MarketVision using different methodology) showed 73% of drivers said they talked on a cell phone while driving and 19% admitted to texting while driving.

SURVEY FINDINGS
• 67% of drivers admit to talking on their cell phone while driving. Of those who do, 30% say they do it less often than they did last year.

• About one in four (24%) U.S. cell phone users have a touch screen cell phone and 40% of them say it makes texting and dialing easier, and 23% say it makes it more difficult.
• While hands-free technology is readily available, two-thirds (65%) of drivers who admit to talking on cell phones while driving say they rarely or never use the devices.

• Some regional differences are noted, including nearly half (48%) of those in the West who say they use hands-free all the time or often. This is perhaps due to state laws prohibiting cell phone use without a hands-free device. Only 13% of drivers in the Midwest use hands-free all the time or often.

• Those with incomes over $100,000 are more than twice as likely to use hands-free all the time or often compared with those making less than $100,000 (46% vs. 20%).
• 18% of drivers have programmed a GPS device while driving.

• Surprisingly only 29% said they eat or drink while driving, only 19% look for stations on the radio, 6% smoke while driving, 3% said they put on makeup and 2% admitted they read while driving.