Texting While Driving on the Rise Among US Drivers
Despite attempts to ban the practice, one-in-four Americans still appear to be texting while driving, according to a new poll.
“We often like to say 26 percent of people admit to driving while texting. We are sure that underestimates the problem," said Dave Grannan, of Vlingo, a mobile voice application company that conducted the poll.
Almost 60 percent of those ages 16 to 19 admit to driving-while-texting, and 49 percent of respondents ages 20 to 29 admit to the dangerous habit.
What’s more, the report found that some of the highest reports of driving-while-texting were found in states that already have bans in place.
The report found that 42 percent of those polled in Tennessee admitted to texting while being sitting behind the wheel. The state is set to enforce a ban on cell phone use while driving in July.
Still, the study noted that slightly more than 83 percent of nearly 5,000 Americans polled said driving-while-texting should be made illegal. Only 7 percent said the practice should be legal; 10 percent were undecided.
According to AFP, Vlingo says it is the inventor of “voice user interface” that allows people to control their phone by voice rather than by touch.
The survey found that nearly 70 percent of respondents said they would use voice recognition technology while driving rather than typing if they had the option.
"In just one year, the public conversation about the issue of DWT has escalated, particularly in the wake of some high-profile accidents," said Dave Grannan, CEO of Vlingo.Â
"Texting is such an integral component of our daily lives, and the cautionary tales about DWT danger have not stemmed the tide. We predicted last year that this problem would get worse, and it has since more people are texting."
"The good news is that many state legislatures are starting to take up this issue, and today more advanced technologies exist that can increase safety on the roads, Grannan added.
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