Poll: 90 Percent Say Ban Texting in Cars

Overwhelming Majority Say Texting While Driving Should Be Illegal

(CBS)  Americans are not fans of texting while driving.

According to a CBS News/New York Times poll released Sunday, a whopping 90 percent of Americans think punching out text messages while behind the wheel should be outlawed, compared with just 8 percent who think it's okay.

An overwhelming majority opposed to texting in the car is seen across age groups as well, though younger Americans are slightly more tolerant of the practice. Even then, only 16 percent of respondents between 18 and 29 are in favor, with 83 percent opposed.

Shocking Stats on Texting While Driving

Ninety-four percent of Americans over the age of 45 think it should be illegal.

Opposition is steady among cell phone users and those with land lines, with 90 percent of both groups against the practice.

And men and women largely agree on the issue. Eighty-eight percent of men think it should be illegal, with 10 percent approving while 92 percent of women say it should be outlawed, with just 6 percent saying it's no problem.

This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1042 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone September 19-23, 2009. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3 percent.

[mikevetman]

By the way if you view fox news, you have a brain, the ones that watch the other channels are either mindless or lemmings. No original thought or just too stupid to think on their own. The truth hurts.

[mikevetman]

Next the government will be telling us when we can take a crap and where! Illegal, no catch them and fine the hell out of them. Seems like anybody can get a liscense to drive, yet the population of the us has an average IQ of 90. Maybe if we give drivers and intelligence test first, the roads will be safer because 3/4 of the people will be on public transport, if they can read the buss schedule.

the government is not the answer,it is the problem.

[sukhjit2008]

Thank you for this report. The numbers are shocking, but needed to understand the importance of staying focused while behind the wheel. I just got a brand new phone last week that I chose because it allows me to be connected via multimedia.. texting, tweeting, calling, pictures, video.. you name it. I'm a big social media junkie and post to twitter and facebook often. After seeing the numbers I am putting the phone down while behind the wheel. I posed a short video about it on my work blog and was happy to see many voices of support. http://electronicsblog.sel.sony.com/sony/blog_post/?contentid=7019643288625372101 It's a good discussion and I'm glad it's been started.

Thank you again for reporting on this important story.

Sukhjit Ghag

[jxknowles]

There should be a law on the books against drivers using hand-held electronic devices while driving.

[RMS47]

Any texting while driving is bad. People who text are 3-4 times more likely to get into a wreck, similar to drunk driving. But most people say it won't happen to them, until it does.

http://www.clean-pool-and-spa.com

[Oregon_State_OSU]

In the last year I upgraded to a phone cell phone that has a full keyboard and finally made it into the texting age.

I tried it a few times while driving and realized how dangerous it was and refuse to text while I am behind the wheel. If somebody texts me while I am behind the wheel and driving I will call them back. I dont even try to text while I am at a Stop Light, I just dont do it.

[hungry1968-16]

by pickaguitar1 September 28, 2009 9:19 AM EDT
Ban Texting in Cars? HELL NO.


We don't need another stinkin rule/law telling us what we can and can't do!






There's no law prohibiting you from wearing a ski mask into a bank either.

Why don't you try it and let us know how that works out for you?

[tomanyt]

Texting is idiotic anyway. If you want say something CALL.

[KrystalKid]

80% percent of all rear end collisions (the most frequent vehicle accident) are caused by driver inattention, following too closely, external distraction (talking on cell phones, shaving, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio or CD player, kids, texting, etc.) and poor judgement.

It's almost impossible to avoid the rear end collision so I went out and got one of these sparebumper.com

[myopinionpal]

Make a national law that says first time offenders texting while driving is a $1000.00 fine, and if there is a death because of it then your car is taken from you and the fine goes up to $5000.00 and two years in jail.

[sripton]

I would support an anti texting measure if my state, Az would also require motorcyclists to wear helmets and prevent unrestrained riders in the back of pickup trucks, but they don't so although I never text while moving and only occasionally answer a hands free call before pulling over, it doesn't make sense until they address these even more horrific safety concerns, and by the way as of 10/1/09, patrons in bars in AZ can carry concealed weapons CRAZY AZ

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

Arizona eh? Well I can tell you that they don't serve beer to belligerent bears in bars in Billings.

[poochie44]

Ban texting and talking while driving unless it is an emergency. I've had a cell phone for quite a few years now. I don't turn it on while I drive because I don't need to talk to someone that bad that it can't wait 10 or 15 minutes or until I get home. If a call does need to be made then I either have my daughter make it or it waits.
As for texting, really, what's the point? Whatever happened to good old fashioned face-to-face communication? I think it's all gotten out of hand and people don't feel secure unless they've got the stupid phone attached to them 24 hrs a day.

[pollroller1]

Well, I have already had one accident where this young lady was texting and ran into the back of my car while I was waiting to make a left turn. Luckily no one was hurt.

[pickaguitar1]

Ban Texting in Cars? HELL NO.


We don't need another stinkin rule/law telling us what we can and can't do!

[johndevinejr]

Yeah, you should be allowed to shut your eyes and dash into heavy freeway traffic too!

Go for it, please.

[johndevinejr]

by stuart-johns September 28, 2009 7:34 AM EDT
by maxsbr September 28, 2009 6:44 AM EDT
No, we just don't think the gov't need to tell people not to be idiots. The gov't is big enough and I am sick of being protected from myself!
========================

The government banning texting while driving is'nt to protect you from yourself but to protect us from you! Get off the anti-government kick.


Is it possible that these people are really this stupid? Is this the base of conservatism, refusing to outlaw dangerous activity because they think it is big government?

I didn't think they could surprise me, but live and learn.

[johndevinejr]

I drive on the Brooklyn Queens Expwy in New York City during rush hour every day and not a day goes by that I don't see one of these morons weaving in heavy traffic, slowing down to type, speeding up when they wait for a response.
Studies have shown that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving drunk. In Utah they passed a law that makes texting while driving a criminal offense that results in a stiff fine $1000 (I think) and 3 months in jail.

A good idea.

[quapawsix]

I ride a motorcycle and I see people texting and driving on I 95 as well as in town so please remember when you text it could be me you run over or it might be someone's loved one you are not the only one on the road please Be Careful .

[hungry1968-16]

by maxsbr September 28, 2009 6:44 AM EDT
No, we just don't think the gov't need to tell people not to be idiots. The gov't is big enough and I am sick of being protected from myself!






I don't need the government to "protect me from myself", but it would be nice if they protected me from immature and dangerous idiots that think it's okay to "text and drive".

[barbaram99]

Common sense is like manners. People get **** that the govt is acting like a nanny. Well who wanted it that way. Every state has a driver's manual..There is another problem that pisses me hot headed drivers. I have been told off by puck drivers too in a hurry cos I have the right of way as a blibd person. The white cane law. We would not have to ban this issus IF the drivers used their heads. They know better.They should not have to jam the cellwhile the car is moving. Drivers hang up. Put yer mind on the road where it need to be. Need to make a call pull over. I realise we lice in a wired nation. I gon't care who pays yer cell. Safety comes first. I don't walk and talk on the phone. I am 55

[rdepontb]

The point in question, driver distraction, is on a relative scale.

- Listening to the radio seems passive by itself. But, some people get very emotionally involved in talk radio discussions, some seem to get carried away with the beauty of loud bass sounds. Mostly it just fills the background, covers the road noises, keeps our minds from wandering too far, helps us stay awake and alert. However, even in its passive mode, did you ever have to turn the radio down (turn off a listening task) when you're looking for a street address (conducting a visual task)? There certainly is a level of interference, but we have conscious control over it.

Hands-free telephone: There are two problems here: One, we are actively engaged in an important discussion or argument, one involving varying levels of critical detail; that is distracting our cognitive capacities, and if we're describing visually-based data (e.g., a ball game play), it can tie up more complex capacities. The other problem is that the listener on the other end is not aware of traffic conditions; he or she will go on with their point regardless of what the listener is dealing with. That puts the listener/driver at quite a disadvantage, sometimes fatally so.

Texting while driving: All of the distractions of the telephone, plus the added distraction of trying to perform serious fine motor tasks, requiring all sorts of input. And taking at least one hand off of the wheel, and at least sporadically, both eyes.

A pretty good case against texting, phoning, maybe even hands-free phoning, and at times even the type of radio you're listening too. This is for the driver; the passengers may well have to suffer with, but survive, the inconvenience.