DISTRACTION

Drivers who text or use a cell phone behind the wheel are a greater concern to motorists than those who drive aggressively, use drugs, or drive under the influence of alcohol, according to a recent AAA study. At the same time, a large share of drivers admitted that they have personally driven while distracted.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently released its 10th annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, which looks at driver attitudes and behaviors related to traffic safety. A total of 87.5 percent said they thought distracted driving was a greater problem today than it was three years ago.

The second most pressing concern among respondents was traffic congestion, with 74.5 percent saying this problem had worsened in the past three years. A total of 68.1 percent said aggressive driving had become a bigger problem, along with 54.9 percent who said drugged driving was more prevalent. Respondents were closely split on drunk driving, with 48.3 percent saying the problem was about as serious as it was three years ago and 43.4 percent saying it had gotten worse.

A variety of behaviors, including eating and talking on a cell phone, are considered distracting because they make a driver take their eyes off the road, take a hand off the steering wheel, or mentally distract them from driving tasks. Texting, using a smartphone app, or adjusting a vehicle's infotainment system are especially dangerous because the behaviors are manually, mentally, and visually distracting.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents—64.8 percent—said they had regularly seen other drivers talking on their cell phones in the past month, with another 28 percent saying they saw this behavior fairly often. A total of 48.9 percent said they saw drivers texting or e-mailing behind the wheel on a regular basis, with 35.1 percent saying they saw it fairly often.

Drivers were strongly opposed to texting or e-mailing while driving, with 95.6 percent considering it completely or somewhat unacceptable to type or send a message while behind the wheel. A total of 92.7 percent felt the same way about reading messages, while 74.8 percent thought it was unacceptable to talk on a handheld cell phone while driving.

Respondents were more accepting of hands-free phone devices, with only 40.6 percent considering it unacceptable to use on while driving. A similar share—40.9 percent—said they would support laws forbidding the use of hands-free devices as well as handheld phones.

Almost all respondents—96.8 percent—saw texting and e-mailing as a serious threat to their safety on the road. A total of 87.7 percent felt the same way about drivers talking on cell phones while driving.

Despite the strong opposition to distracted driving, a large number of respondents admitted that they had recently engaged in such behaviors. Just under half—49.1 percent—admitted to talking on a handheld cell phone at least once while driving in the past 30 days. A total of 44.9 percent of drivers said they read or sent a text message or e-mail while driving, while 34.6 percent said they typed at least one message.

"As the number of distractions behind the wheel increases, from the latest phone apps to in-vehicle technology, it is important that we better educate drivers on the dangers of distraction," said Jake Nelson, director of traffic advocacy and research at AAA. "There is a disconnect between what drivers do and what they believe. While most recognize the dangers created by taking your eyes off the road, they engage in distracting behaviors anyway – creating a 'do as I say, not as I do' culture on the roadway."

AAA studies suggest that drivers who use a handheld cell phone while driving are four times as likely to crash as drivers who don't, while those who text or otherwise manipulate a cell phone are eight times more likely to crash. Government estimates hold that distraction accounts for 14 percent of all crashes, but AAA research argues that distraction is an underreported problem because it can be difficult to detect. One study of teen drivers using in-vehicle cameras determined that the driver was distracted in 58 percent of recorded crashes.