WASHINGTON, Nov 16, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Twenty-five percent of U.S.
adolescents admit texting while driving and say their parents do it, too, a
phone survey released Monday showed.
The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project findings come from
focus groups and phone surveys, The Washington Post reported.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said distracted driving
accounted for 5,870 deaths and approximately 515,000 injuries last year.
Drivers under age 20 last year had the highest distracted-driving fatality rate
among all age groups, and drivers ages 20-29 came in second, NHTSA showed.
"Many teens understand the risks of texting behind the wheel but the desire to
stay connected is so strong for teens and their parents that safety sometimes
takes a back seat to staying in touch with friends and family," said Amanda
Lenhart, the Pew report's co-author.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood emphasized the importance of parents
paying attention to the road to provide a positive example for their children,
but the Pew research discovered that not many do.
"The frequency of teens reporting parent cell phone use behind the wheel in our
focus groups was striking, and suggested, in many cases, that texting while
driving is a family affair," the Pew report said.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International