Authors
Tison, J., Chaudhary, N., & Cosgrove, L.
Publisher
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Website Section
Driving Behaviors
Method
Phone survey
Abstract
This report describes the results of a national telephone survey conducted by NHTSA. The survey was designed to assess current attitudes and self-reported behaviors about distracted driving. The survey was fielded to 6002 drivers aged 18 years or older across all 50 US States and the District of Columbia. The results demonstrated 2 out of 10 drivers reported they had sent text messages or emails while driving. However, half of the respondents aged 21 to 24 years engaged in distracted driving behavior. More than half of all respondents believed using a cell phone and or sending a text message/e-mail made no difference in their driving performance, yet as passengers, 90% said they would feel very unsafe if their driver was talking on a handheld cell phone or texting/e-mailing while traveling with them. Overall, most drivers reported driving becomes more dangerous when they take their eyes off the road for more than 2 seconds.
Reference
Tison, J., Chaudhary, N., & Cosgrove, L. (2011) National phone survey on distracted driving attitudes and behaviors. DOT HS 811 555. Washington, D.C.: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Related Topics
Distracted driving, distracted, distraction, inattention, cell phone, texting, phone, hand-held
