One out of every four American teens aged 16 or 17 have texted while driving, and more than 40 percent have talked on the phone while driving, according to a new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
They'd better stop. All cell phone use is illegal for drivers under 18 in North Carolina, and starting Dec. 1, texting is illegal for drivers of all ages in the state. (See Oct. 13 Road Worrier column on texting teens.)
The report released today, "Teens and Distracted Driving: Talking, texting and other uses of the cell phone behind the wheel," also says:
- 82% of U.S. teens aged 16-17 own cell phones, and 76% of these cell-phoners use them to send or receive text messages.
- 34% of texting 16-17 yr olds say they have texted while driving. That means 26% of all teens aged 16 and 17. Among teens aged 12-17, 48% say they have been in a car while the driver was texting.
- 52% of cell-phoners aged 16-17 say they have talked on the phone while driving. That means 43% of all American teens in that age group.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter and editor since 1976, he took over the 
Comments
Drive Safely
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 11:10 — drivesafelyI recognized the importance to keep my hands on the wheel and eyes on the road after watching a news clip about a car crash. Drivesafe.ly application made it easy for me to listen to text messages received.
Those stats are low...
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 20:40 — paulvailHeh, only the honest ones replied. I invite you to carefully stand (FAR from the edge of the sidewalk) at a local high school and observe as the children ... and their parents ... pull into or away from the school. Cell phone in one hand, cigarette and diet coke in the other, steering with their knee while checking their look in the rear-view mirror. OK, so I made up the part about the diet Coke.
And over here by the new elementary school on Leesville, the long line of SUVs and sedans snake their way to the curb every morning and afternoon, parents chatting away, oblivious to traffic signals, pedestrians, other drivers. At least they are only doing 5 mph, so when they do 'not' see the child they eventually will run over, they won't be going very fast. Not much consolation, but I'm sure it was a Very Important Call. Of course, the kid will be blamed for walking out in traffic while texting... Those third-graders have to text to let mom know what lot they're in.
BTW -- what is with all the car caddying? We used to use a school bus (and my folks thought THAT was lame).
Texting
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 18:00 — SeafeverAnd most of these text messages consist of such arcane material as I'm on my way to your house. Now I'm getting closer to your house. Now I'm closer.
If you have an emergency, it's understandable, but to risk the lives of yourselves and others for vapid chit-chat is just plain indefensible.
I'm posting this now from
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 16:11 — dougdeepI'm posting this now from I-40, Left Lane.