Who is texting behind the wheel in Kansas City? You may be surprised.

A surprising new study shows that adults may be just as likely, and perhaps even more likely than teenagers to be guilty of texting while driving.

A report titled Adults and Cell Phone Use Distractions was released last week by The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. The researchers surveyed 2,252 American adults over the age of 18. They compared the data with a survey of teens that was conducted by Princeton Survey Research International.

The surprising finding: nearly one-half (47%) of adults who text admitted to texting while behind the wheel. In comparison, about one-third (34%) of 16 and 17 year old drivers who text admitted to texting while driving. When non-texters are included, the percentages are similar. Twenty-seven percent of adult drivers have texted while driving. Twenty-six percent of teens admitted to doing the same.

The study compared texting among three generations of adults. Adults between the ages of 18 and 34 (The Millenials) are the most likely to engage in texting while at the wheel. Fifty-nine percent of texters in this age group have written or read text messages while driving. In comparison, 50% of texters between the ages of 34 to 45 (Generation X) and 29 percent of texters between the ages of 46 and 64 (Baby Boomers) have texted while driving.

About half of all drivers (49% of adults and 48% of teens) have been passengers in a car while the driver was reading or sending text messages.

The study also looked at cell phone use. Seventy-five percent of adults who own cell phones have used their cell phone while driving. Teens appear to be more careful in cell phone use as well. Half of teens who own cell phones (52%) have used their phone while driving. In the general population, this translates to 61 percent of adults and 43 percent of teens.

About 17% of drivers who own cell phones admitted to physically bumping into a person or object because they were distracted by talking or texting on a cellphone. This means that one in every six cell-phone users has had at least a minor accident caused by cell phone use. Is this surprising? In 2008, approximately 6,000 American drivers were killed in car accidents that were caused by distracted drivers.

The Kansas City car crash attorneys at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys represent victims of distracted driving and other reckless driving accidents. If you or a loved one have been injured by a distracted driver in Kansas or Missouri, contact our office to schedule a free consultation about your case and to request a copy of our free book 10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Personal Injury Claim.

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Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys
1102 Grand Blvd., Ste 1901
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: 816-471-5111
Toll Free: 888-348-2616
Get Directions

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