Educated People Text More While Driving

Driving distracted has proven to be as dangerous as driving under the influence. As a result, even cell phone manufacturers now warn of the dangers of distracted driving via giant billboards (which are, ironically, distracting). The bottom line is, you must be pretty dumb if you text and drive. But a new poll conducted by insurancequotes.com reveals that well educated and affluent American drivers are in fact the major culprits of distracted driving.

Drivers with higher incomes are more likely to have electronics inside their vehicles at any given time, which makes sense considering drivers with college degrees (who make more than $75,000 per year) are the biggest offenders of talking on cell phones and texting while driving.

But they’re not the only ones doing so. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA), 93 percent of drivers admit to driving while distracted, regardless of age or class. Forty percent report their habits have gotten them into trouble, from tickets and moving violations to near misses and even full-blown accidents. NHTSA links 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2009 asattributable to distracted driving.

Twenty eight states, as well as Washington D.C., have banned texting while driving. Some laws are tougher than others. More than 20 other states consider texting a primary offense. Click here for more information on state laws.

Is this only going to get worse as more distracting devices hit the market? What do you think? Leave your comments here, or email me, at jcurtis@mainstreetconnect.us.

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