A new study shows that adult commuters text and email more than teenagers do when behind the wheel of a car. 1,200 teenagers were polled by AT&t on their texting habits and 43% admitted to texting behind the wheel. An unspecified number of adults were polled and 49% of them, all commuters, admitted to texting. 98% of the adults polled said they were conscious of how dangerous texting while driving is. Even still, 40% of them say that texting while driving has become habitual.
Teenagers view texting while driving and texting at a red light as two separate activities. 97% of them are aware that texting while driving is dangerous and 70% think texting while at a stop light is dangerous. Only teenagers were polled on their red light activities. 8 in 10 of the teenagers polled said they saw adults texting behind the wheel while driving, though 9 in 10 say their own parents are good role models.
More and more AT&t phones come with a sticker on the screen that says “It Can Wait”; it’s a part of a campaign aimed at reducing texting while driving. Businesses are taking this quite seriously because they can be held liable if an accident is caused by an employee texting while driving.
In Virginia, there is a push in the senate to make texting while driving a primary offense. Right now it’s still a secondary offense which means one can only be ticketed for texting while driving if a primary offense is being committed. If you’re pulled over and issued a ticket for texting while driving in Fairfax, Prince William or Loudoun County, call The Gordon Law Firm today at 703-218-8416 for your free consultation.