More Drivers Texting, Study Says

Two out of every 10 drivers on the street is text messaging, as reported by a recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Half of all those who responded between the ages of 21 and 24 admitted to the act. These amounts are up in spite of growing amount of states outlawing text messaging behind the wheel. But the problem might be even more common than individuals want to admit, the study suggests.

Drivers making bad decisions

The survey, released Dec. 8, polled more than 6,000 drivers across the nation between the months of Nov and Dec., 2010. The point of the study was to survey individuals. It was meant to figure out why "some individuals continue to make bad decisions" while driving regardless of the truth that they know it is risky.

David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said:

"What's clear from all of the information we have is that driver distraction continues to be a major problem."

Texting statistics

If someone received a phone call while driving, much of the individuals surveyed said they would answer it and continue the drive. The NHTSA explained that one in every one hundred drivers is typically using their mobile phone at all times. This can contain texting, emailing or even using the internet. Even though there have been more state bans lately, the amount of incidents have increased 50 percent in the last year. There are now 35 states that have the text messaging behind the wheel ban. Probably the most recent state was Pennsylvania in Nov.

While most of those responding said they supported state-wide bans and tougher fines, about half also said that talking on a cellphone made no difference in their ability to drive. About 25 percent of respondents said their ability to drive wasn't hampered by emailing or texting while driving. Of those surveyed, 90 percent said that they get nervous when a driver in the automobile is texting or emailing while they're a passenger.

Traffic deaths lowest in decades

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has declared traffic fatalities for 2010. It seems they have decreased. This is regardless of the fact that traffic nationwide increased by 1.6 percent from 2009. Last year, 32,855 people died on the U.S. highways, which is a decrease from 2009's 33,808 deaths. The fatalities have not been that low since 1949.