Web Insight 142xxx: do you have the urge to check your cell phone while driving?

Smart Phones have become ubiquitous. There is widespread realization that many people cannot stop checking their phone, and that this tendency can be problematic in a variety of ways. One major problem is that people check their phone while driving instead of keeping their eyes on the road.

In the Center’s Future of Transportation Study, we asked people if they have a strong desire to check their Smart Phone while driving.

Overall, 20 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement “I have the urge to check my Smart Phone every few minutes while driving.” Six percent strongly agreed and 14 percent somewhat agreed.

Having this urge varies by age. Twenty-seven percent of Millennials (aged 19-35) somewhat or strongly agreed with this statement, as opposed to just 16 percent of those aged 36 or more.

Race also seems to be related. Twenty-eight percent of Hispanics and 25 percent of African-Americans agreed strongly or somewhat with the statement, as opposed to 19 percent of whites and 17 percent of Asians.

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April 27, 2020