Apparently we just can't resist the temptation to play with our mobile devices while driving, despite admitting how dangerous and stupid it is.
So says a new survey that asks Americans about dangerous driving and finds they admit to engaging in habits that could have deadly consequences.
The Harris Interactive survey polled more than 2,000 adults on driving-related topics from texting to reading books and we are behaving quite badly behind the wheel as summer, the busiest driving season, is about to officially begin.
"When it comes to knowing what behaviors are dangerous behind the wheel, Americans have most of their facts straight," the report begins. "When it comes to actually avoiding those behaviors, though, a clear disconnect continues to exist between the dangers Americans acknowledge and what they do anyway."
Let's begin by taking a look at the survey results by examining the response to drinking and driving. While the survey showed that almost all Americans believe driving after having three or more drinks (94 percent) is dangerous or very dangerous, shockingly some 37 percent of those who drink alcohol say they've driven at a time when they'd likely had too much to drink. Three in 10 (30 percent) agree that they are more likely to get behind the wheel after a few drinks if they only have to drive a short distance.
With regard to our smartphone usage while behind the wheel, more than nine in 10 Americans believe sending (94 percent) and reading (91 percent) texts while driving is dangerous or very dangerous. Well, they apparently don't care that they know it's dangerous because roughly 75 percent of drivers with cell phones say they do text while driving and two in 10 (21 percent) say they do so frequently.
These same folks are also not concerned while riding shotgun and witnessing these dangerous driving habits. The majority (63 percent) say they have driven with someone who is talking on a cell phone (62 percent while holding), and 40 percent say they do so often. The numbers are worse when it comes to being a passenger while the driver is texting or reading a text as 45 percent say they have done this and roughly 25 percent say this occurs often.
Over four in 10 Americans ride with a driver who's reading (45 percent) or sending (41 percent) text messages, with roughly one-fourth saying they often or sometimes do so (26 percent reading, 23 percent sending).
The numbers are as alarming among Millennials as approximately 25 percent of drivers with cell phones from this generation frequently talk on the device while driving, read text messages (27 percent) and send texts (24 percent) while behind the wheel.
Some frightening results from a survey that should serve as wake-up call for stricter distracted driving laws in the United States.
