As if driving while texting or yapping on the phone weren’t bad enough, the advent of smartphones has added a new problem to distracted driving from those surfing the internet while behind the wheel.
According to State Farm, people are webbing while driving with increasing frequency. Along with texting, such behavior may pose equal or greater concerns in the effort to reduce distracted driving.
Four years of data show a significant increase in the use of mobile web services while driving. A July 2012 survey of nearly 1,000 motorists indicates this ia a growing safety concern.
The growing popularity of smart phones is contributing to these escalating numbers. The survey revealed an increase in the percentage of drivers who own mobile web devices, as well as an increase in the number of people who report accessing the internet while driving. This tells us more drivers than ever are webbing while driving.
“The mobile internet is generating another set of distractions for drivers to avoid,” Chris Mullen, State Farm’s director of technology research, said in a statement.. “While the safety community is appropriately working to reduce texting while driving, we must also be concerned about the growing use of multiple mobile web services while driving.”
While the distracted driving focus has traditionally been on young people, the data indicate that motorists of all ages are using the mobile web while driving.
For drivers 18-29:
• Accessing the internet while on a cell phone while driving increased from 29 percent in 2009 to 48 percent in 2012.
• Reading social media networks while driving increased from 21 percent in 2009 to 36 percent in 2012.
• Updating social networks while driving increased from 20 percent in 2009 to 30 percent in 2011.
• Checking email while driving rose from 32 percent in 2009 to 43 percent in 2012.
For all drivers, the data showed:
• Smart phone ownership is on the rise, and people who report webbing while driving goes down with age.
• Accessing the internet while on a cell phone increased from 13 percent in 2009 to 21 percent in 2012.
• Reading social media networks while driving increased from 9 percent in 2009 to 15 percent in 2012.
• Updating social networks while driving increased from 9 percent in 2009 to 13 percent in 2012.
When asked for their opinion on ways to reduce distracted driving, 72 percent of drivers surveyed strongly agree with laws or regulations prohibiting texting or emailing behind the wheel.
Almost two-thirds believe that laws governing cell phone use while driving are enforced to little or no extent. To a lesser degree, 45 percent were extremely likely to support technology that would prevent texting or talking on a cell phone while driving.
“State Farm continues to support a multi-pronged approach to encouraging more engaged driving,” Mullen said. “Regulation, enforcement, education and technology all have a role to play in making our roads safer for all who share them.”
