WASHINGTON-A new national poll says drivers admit to dangerous behavior on the road, including talking on cell phones while operating vehicles.
The Mason-Dixon Polling Research Inc. poll, commissioned by “Drive for Life: The National Safe Driving Test & Initiative,” said half of the respondents between ages 26 and 44 acknowledged using mobile phones while driving.
“So much of what we do behind the wheel is subconscious, and most people take driving and their responsibilities for granted,” said Paul Burris, president of Partners for Highway Safety, a non-profit group dedicated to raising public awareness about the preventability of highway deaths and the need to better prepare young people for the responsibilities of driving. “All of us, regardless of age, need to be fully aware that no matter what, safe driving demands concentration and full attention at all times.”
The state of New York and several towns around the country ban the use of handheld phones while driving.
The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association opposes statewide restrictions on cell-phone use in cars, a position at odds with the nation’s top mobile-phone carrier, Verizon Wireless. CTIA insists education is the key to improving driver distraction.
