The odds are always pretty good that if the car in front of you is swerving a bit back and forth in their lane, the driver is looking at their cell phone.
At night, it’s even more obvious, that light glow hitting their face while they’re operating a vehicle going 60 MPH on the freeway.
Cell phone use while driving is now considering a major hazard by the federal Department of Transportation, and while there are studies showing that overall use has decreased in recent years, a new study has found that one in four drivers admits to regular cell phone use while driving.
The survey asked over 1,000 US residents about their habits while driving, including how frequently, if ever, they use their cell phones while driving. 25% of people responded to the survey saying they use their phone at least “regularly” while driving, meaning at least once per drive.
While most people probably don’t think twice about checking a quick text message or answering a phone call, those seconds with their eyes off the road prove fatal hundreds of times a year.
The National Safety Council reports that somewhere between 300-500 people are killed every year by distracted drivers specifically related to cell phone use. It’s safe to assume that the majority of the people responsible for these deaths didn’t think twice about a quick peek at their phone while driving, leading to disastrous consequences.
The good news is that there has been a large scale effort to educate and change the habits of those who use their phones while driving. Whether it be through public service announcements or education through drivers’ training programs, the dangers of cell phone use while driving are being clearly communicated.
The Reviews.com survey also noted that age played a big role in cell phone use, with younger people the most likely to use their cell phones while driving. Older people, those above 55, were the least likely to routinely use their phones while driving.
