Almost Half of Young Drivers Text While Driving

September 2008

As more people substitute phone calls with text messaging, safety concerns are on the rise. A survey has found that nearly half of all drivers aged 18-24 send text messages while they drive, an activity that states are banning due to its dangers.

The survey of 1,000 United States adults found that those under 25 are not the only ones who text behind the wheel. Almost 30 percent of drivers in the 25-34 age group text while driving and 19 percent of drivers aged 35-44 do so. These numbers may increase as texting becomes more and more popular. In June 2008, 75 billion text messages were sent in the United States, compared with 7.2 billion in June 2005.

Currently, Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington state ban the sending of text messages while driving. Thirteen other states are considering similar legislation.