Nine out of 10 drivers used their smartphone behind the wheel last year, according to a new report.
The State Farm® Enterprise Research Department conducted an online survey with adults ages 18 and older examining attitudes and behaviors around distracted driving.
The survey, carried out August 2020, found that 89 percent of motorists engaged in at least one of the 14 distracted driving behaviors studied while behind the wheel including texting, speeding, reading, using social media and taking selfies.
More drivers reported participating in each behavior than they did in similar surveys in 2010 or 2015, with the exception of talking on a hand-held phone, which has declined significantly since 2010 as more drivers use hands-free phones.
Drivers under age 40 were significantly more likely than those age 40 and over to say they engaged in distracted phone and navigation behaviors.
“So much has changed in our lives this past year,” said State Farm Assistant Vice President – Enterprise Research Laurel K. Straub.
“We don’t know what our ‘new normal’ might be, but we can start taking responsibility for the safety of ourselves and others by making positive choices when it comes to our driving behavior behind the wheel.”
