For the fourth consecutive year, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index shows drivers know that cell phone use and texting while driving is dangerous, yet they continue to do it anyway. Data from the 2011 survey found that 95% of drivers view texting or emailing by other drivers as a serious threat to their own personal safety, yet 35% of those same drivers also admit to having read or sent a text message or email in the previous month while behind the wheel. Other distracted driving findings:
Of those drivers who admitted to having talked on a cell phone while driving (67.7%):
- 55% admit to answering calls more than half the time while stopped at a red light.
- 31% said they make calls at red lights.
- 28% answer calls while driving on a freeway with heavy traffic more than half the time.
- 5% admit they make calls on a freeway with heavy traffic.
Of those who admitted to reading or typing text messages or emails while driving (35%):
- 54% admit to reading text messages or emails while stopped at red lights.
- 35% said they type text messages or emails while stopped at red lights.
- 16% admit to reading text messages or emails while driving on a freeway with heavy traffic.
- 9% said they type text messages or emails while driving on a freeway in heavy traffic.
The AAA Foundation and AAA are promoting Heads Up Driving Week today through Saturday. The campaign aims to inspire drivers to pledge a week of distraction-free driving with the “Try it for a Week and Do it for Life” campaign.
