San Jose (CA) - Around nine in ten Americans think it's dangerous to text while driving, even though more than half say they have committed the offense.

A new Harris Interactive survey found that 91% of Americans said texting while driving was as dangerous as driving under the influence of a couple drinks.  89% said texting and driving should be illegal.

Even so, 57% of the 2,049 adults polled who drive and use text messaging on separate occasions said they have also done both activities at the same time.  66% said they have read messages while behind the steering wheel.

Of those who admitted to texting while driving, 64% were between the ages of 18 and 34, and 6% were over age 55.

Washington became the first state to officially outlaw the dangerous act when it passed a texting-while-driving ban in May.  California, Florida, New York, and a handful of others have introduced similar legislation in the past but none have been signed into law so far.

Pinger, the company that commissioned the survey, offers hands-free voice-driven mobile messaging services.

Of course they have done it

Aug 07, 2007 12:26     

It's not ME I'm worried about when considering a ban. It's the people that are not as coordinated and good at multitasking that I would want to ban. And actually, I don't care what 91% of people polled think. I would hope we have some evidence that texting while driving is close to alcohol-related driving before giving up such a useful communication tool. If it is nearly equally as dangerous, then by all means let's ban it.

Paul Reid report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Why?

Aug 07, 2007 12:31     

Do people need to "text and drive"? Or "text" someone at all? Just call the person! That's what the phone is for. And its gotta be far less dangerous to talk to someone on the phone and look at the road than stare at your phone instead of the road while slowly typing out a message and driving.
David report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

About time

Aug 07, 2007 12:42     

There were 4-5 girls killed recently because the driver was texting and crossed over the line which resulted in a head on crash with a truck. This should be easy to enforce with the GPS features of the phone. If you're moving, it wont let you receive or send a text. I can tell when people are on their phone without even viewing the driver. They're drifted out of their lane, and/or going 20 under the limit. Eventually there will be a day when it is illegal to use your phone in all 50 states when more people are killed by these idiots. Look at the bridge collapse. Every state is out there inspecting their bridges. We're a reactionary society, so dead people are the ticket to get this nationwide.

Owen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

RE: Owen

Aug 07, 2007 12:59     

Owen there is a fatal flaw in your idea of not being able to text while moving. How does the phone distinguise if your a passenger or a driver let alone if your not even in a car but on a bus or train?
whybother report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Stupid

Aug 07, 2007 13:28     

How is this ever going to get enforced? I could see if you are stopped at a light and a cop is beside you, then its possible, but you could easily just tell the cop that you are playing a game on your phone, which isn't illegal. I know people that use their laptop while driving, which is admittedly kind of unnerving. I don't really see the need for laws against cell phones and driving, its just as distracting to have another person in the car talking to you or having a pretty girl walking on the side of the road (which I have seen cause at least 2 accidents). @Owen, So I can't use my phone if I am a passenger or on a bus, or while jogging?

gm0n3y report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: Abou time

Aug 07, 2007 13:34     

Owen, you cannot simply disable text messaging because the phone is moving. What about passengers in vehicle? Or walking? Or tracking errors while you're standing still? No, using GPS tracking to enforce a no-text rule is way over the line.
Tom report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

RE:Owen

Aug 07, 2007 14:42     

As good as that idea sounds at first, the others have mentioned the major flaw in your idea. The other issue with GPS tracking is that it constitutes an invasion of privacy IMO. I do not want the feds to have another way of knowing where I am every second of the day. They have enough tools to track me if they need to as it is.
Harrison report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

How about...

Aug 07, 2007 17:41     

A car that drives itself! No problems there.. I know sci-fi, but something for the auto manufactures to think about. (Yes I know about the grand challenge and about half of the cars crashing...) But in 10 years, maybe 20, the CPU might be better at driving than people on their cell phones..much less drunk or working on their laptops!!!
Paul Wowk report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Paul

Aug 07, 2007 18:59     

I'll have you know, the Playstation 3's cell processor is currently being tested to see if it can efficiently drive a car so it's not too far off...^_^
snake report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: Re: Owen x 2

Aug 07, 2007 20:22     

Ah good points. See how reactionary I was (
Owen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

grate cant wate wile your at it...

Aug 08, 2007 10:51     

most Americans cant drive manly why we have speed limits we are drinking in the car wile driving talking on the phone texting and more you complain about not having a autobahn type of road when you cant even drive on a normal road most of the laws arnt followed turn signals are only used in the presence of police officers. American drivers jest think everyone has esp and we have people going 90 down dirt roads reason why the first think you see about a new cars in America ooo 5 star crash test rating...wake up people

rob report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re:"Grate" lol

Aug 08, 2007 19:54     

That has got to be the best run on sentence I've ever seen, except that time when I was watching a cartoon. Dude, try again, that was a mess.
Owen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0