A new survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that distracted driving is the biggest concern among drivers.
The survey revealed 88 percent of drivers believe distracted driving is on the rise, ahead of aggressive driving (68 percent), drivers using drugs (55 percent) and drunk driving (43 percent).
Roughly 49 percent said they have recently talked on a handheld phone while driving. The proportion of drivers who say they talk on a cell phone regularly while driving has increased 46 percent since 2013.
Further, almost 35 percent said they have sent a text or email while driving.
About 58 percent of drivers say talking on a cellphone while driving is a serious threat to their personal safety, while 78 percent believe that texting is a significant danger.
AAA Foundation found that drivers talking on a cellphone are up to four times as likely to crash, while those who text are up to eight times as likely to be in an accident.
“With more than 37,000 deaths on U.S. roads in 2016, we need to continue finding ways to limit driving distractions and improve traffic safety,” David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said. “The Foundation’s work offers insight on drivers’ attitudes toward traffic safety and their behaviors, so we can better understand the issue and identify potential countermeasures to reduce crashes.”
The survey said the drivers believe the problem of distracted driving has increased over the past three years. About 50 percent said they regularly see drivers emailing or texting while driving.
The federal government estimates that distraction plays a factor in 14 percent of all crashes. However, AAA Foundation research says it’s much higher, particularly among teen drivers.
“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,” Jake Nelson, AAA director of traffic safety advocacy and research, said. “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.”