More Americans talk and text while driving than those in other countries

A study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention finds that Americans talk and text more than drivers in other countries. The agency found that 69% of Americans they spoke with had talked on their handset while driving at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey. That figure compares to the 21% of UK drivers who were guilty of the doing the exact same thing. And compared with the 15% of drivers in Spain who had sent or read a text or email while driving in the 30 days prior to the survey, 31% of Americans had done the same thing.

The CDC also examined U.S. drivers more thoroughly and found that both men and women are equally guilty when it comes to talking on a handset while driving, or sending/receiving a text or email while behind the wheel. It was also found that drivers in the age group of 25-44 are more liable to talk on a phone while driving, compared to those in the 55-64 age bracket. When it comes to texting or emailing while driving, it is a behavior seen more in the 18-34 age group than those aged 45-64.

As of last month, 33 states and the District of Columbia had laws preventing teens or new drivers from using a handset while driving. The CDC says that parents can play a big role by modeling the correct behavior for their children. One idea would be to include "no talking or texting while driving" as part of a parent-teen driving agreement.


source: CDC via Slashgear