A survey now released through cellular application vendor Vlingo says twenty six percent of cellular phone users questioned admit to Texting While Driving. The highest quantity of offenders are in Tennessee, among 42 percent of people saying they text behind the wheel, as Arizona drivers came in lowest at 18.8 percent.
Texting while driving is fully banned in seven states as well as Washington, D.C., and partly banned within a select few other states. However it's not just auto drivers who pose a threat. In Massachusetts, a subway operator distracted by texting his girlfriend rammed his train into the one in front of him sending almost fifty individuals to the hospital.
'In only one year, the public discussion about the issue of texting while driving has escalated, mainly from the wake of particular high-profile accidents,' said Dave Grannan, CEO of Vlingo. 'Texting is such an fundamental part of our every day life, as well as warning tales about texting while driving danger have not stemmed the tide. We predicted the previous year that this problem would worsen, and it has as more persons are texting.'
Eighty-three percent of people surveyed believe texting while driving ought to be illegal. Although forty percent of those questioned would Okay texting while driving with appropriate safety precautions, such as voice-activated commands. Additional, 70 percent would make use of speech technology to talk plus hear incoming messages versus typing and reading.
However, research carried out last year from Carnegie Mellon University found that just listening to cellular phone messages can limit a driver's capacity to focus on the road.
The Vlingo survey uncovered additional trends based on age. Nearly 60 percent of individuals ages 16 to 19 and forty nine percent of those in their 20s admit to texting while driving. In the midst of people in their 50s, thirteen percent admitted they have texted behind the wheel.
The 2009 survey released on Wednesday was the 2nd annual one which Vlingo has commissioned. Study results have been based on responses from 4,816 people residing within the continental U.S. Vlingo makes a voice-activated application for cellular phones, consequently one can say that it could have a vested interest within the outcome. However, this company states the study was conducted as a result of an independent research firm named Toluna.