Cell Survey: 20% Drive With Thighs

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--As local governments throughout the country seek to restrict cellular telephone use while on the road, a national survey reveals that 13 percent of drivers who talk on cell phones behind the wheel say it has caused, or nearly caused, them to get into a wreck. Also, 20 percent report that they are so busy multi-tasking behind the wheel that they have steered their car with their thighs.

Overall, cell phone usage was reported by 29 percent of all drivers in the Response Insurance National Driving Habits Survey.

But the survey also found that 76 percent of drivers engaged in one or more other distracting activities while driving. In many cases those distractions resulted in crashes or near-crashes at an even higher rate.

“The real problem is in the drivers who seem to think they’re sitting in their living rooms, rather than behind the wheel. They’re eating, talking on the phone, listening to the radio, reading and combing their hair--everything except paying attention to the road,” said Mory Katz, chairman of Response Insurance.

Newly released survey results also drew a clearer picture of the typical cell phone driver:

• Men edged out women on the phone, 31 percent to 28 percent.

• Baby-boomers 35-44 years old ranked highest at 40 percent, as compared to drivers 65+ at just 10 percent.

• Drivers from Western states call/drive more than those in the Northeast, 33 percent to 26 percent.

• Drivers earning more than $50,000 a year call and drive more than those in the $15-25K range, 46 percent to 15 percent.

• Parents do it more than those without children, 38 percent to 24 percent.

“Distractions come in many forms and talking on a cell phone is just one of the activities that can result in inattentive driving,” said Katz.

Additional survey results and information can be obtained at www.response.com.