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Texting while driving: Why do people do it?
By Gina Kim
McClatchy Newspapers
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- There are those things you shouldn't do, but you do them anyway. You leave your contact lenses in overnight. You eat that last piece of pie. You text-message while driving.

And even if you know that driving while distracted is dangerous, you tell yourself that you're a good driver. You know where all the letters are on your phone or Blackberry so you barely have to look away from the road. Plus, it's just a quick message you need to send off.

Well, it seems, you think just like everyone else.

About 90 percent of American adults think texting and driving should be outlawed, a Harris Interactive poll sponsored by Pinger instant voice messaging service found. And yet, 57 percent admit sending a text while driving.

``Sociologists call it pluralistic ignorance. It's this concept where reality applies to everybody but me,'' says Kevin Wehr, an assistant professor of sociology at California State University, Sacramento. ``We justify things because we think we're better or different from other people. But, of course, we are not better than others. We are just as bad as the next folk.''

Text messaging has become a prevalent form of communication in today's technology age. Last year, 158 billion text messages, or 300,000 per minute, were sent in the United States, according to CTIA, an international association for the wireless telecommunications industry. That's up 95 percent from 2005, the association found.

So it makes sense that some of those wireless messages are sent by people navigating the gridlock known as the modern-day commute; a scary concept when nearly 80 percent of crashes involve some form of driver inattention, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

The most common distraction: cell phone use, with the act of dialing tripling the risk of a crash, the report found.

Simply talking on a cell phone affects your ``functional field of view,'' says Erik Nelson, a senior cognitive psychology student at the University of Kansas who is researching the impacts of texting while driving. This means that because you're concentrating on the conversation, you have a form of tunnel vision and are not able to process what's happening in your peripheral vision, he says.

Texting demands even more attention because a driver can't look at the road while typing.

``You have two visual stimuli at the same time and you can't pay attention to them both,'' Nelson says. ``So it's that much more dangerous.''

Nelson polled about 300 University of Kansas students about their cell phone and driving habits. Every single student — 100 percent — admitted talking while driving, and 72 percent said they text message.

``It absolutely has to do with this age group,'' Nelson says. ``But we hypothesize that future generations will have more of this type of usage frequency compared to older generations that haven't grown up with this technology.''

And for those surveyed who said text messaging is ``very risky,'' 35 percent said they still text all or most of the time while driving, Nelson says.

``We believe there's a social pressure to always be available,'' he says. ``And people are putting that need ahead of their safety both for themselves and others.''

With our 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week mentality, the need to constantly be reachable will only intensify, says Jo Mackiewicz, an assistant professor of technical communication at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill this month banning 16- and 17-year-olds from using cell phones and messaging devices while driving. The bill fines teens $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent violations starting in July.

But still, adults in California will continue to have free rein when it comes to texting and driving although some technology companies are developing solutions.

Pinger, based in San Jose, Calif., has created a service that enables people to send instant voice messages instead of texts. And Sync, a Microsoft company, has a voice-activated music and cell phone system that will debut in some 2008 Fords, Mercurys and Lincolns.

It's welcome technology for Pierre Khawand of People-OnTheGo, a San Francisco-based productivity training company.

``A few years ago, it was a unique thing to have a (text-mesaging or e-mail) device like this,'' Khawand says. ``Now we see it almost like a necessity.''

Khawand, who uses an iPhone, says he rarely e-mails when driving and follows what he calls the ``one-glance rule.''

``If you can do what you want to do in one glance, that's OK,'' he says. ``If something's going to take your eyes off the road for more than one glance, then you're in the danger zone.''

Still, texting while driving will always be like one of those things people do even though they know they shouldn't, says Wehr, the sociologist.

"It's like smoking. People will sit there and puff away and say, `Never start this. This stuff will kill you,'" he says. "Common sense is not very common."

(c) 2007, The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.).

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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About 90 percent of American adults think texting and driving should be outlawed, a Harris Interactive poll sponsored by Pinger instant voice messaging service found. And yet, 57 percent admit sending a text while driving.
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Reader comments on this story - 42 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

dumb stuff wrote on Jan 31, 2008 11:05 AM:

" people need 2 get a life! DO NOT TXT WHILE DRIVING! Its STUPID! If your going 2 DWT u need 2 got to HELL! "

nevermind wrote on Jan 28, 2008 8:51 PM:

" texting while driving is a very stupid idea, yeah you may know where the letters are but still why would you want to hurt others while doing it killing your self is fine but others please dont text and drive "

sidekick pimpin wrote on Oct 2, 2007 5:41 AM:

" Sidekick device made texting easier!!!!!!!!! everyone needs to chill out, texting is a feature on ur phone, if u use it then its ur choice, i aint gonna be driving on the freeway worrying about if other ppl sharing the road with me are texting, safety is in ur power, use it! thats all! "

To: It's not the phone... wrote on Sep 25, 2007 10:55 AM:

" I agree, to an extent. Most people can safely talk on their cell while driving, but you have to take your eyes off the road for more than a second to dial if the number isn't in your contacts list. There's also people that don't have an extra hand to spare because they drive a stick shift. Hands-free is the way to go. Get a headset, or one of those cool earphones that look neat hooked up to your ear with the mouth piece a little lower on the cord, by your mouth. Heck, nowadays you can hook up your cell so that when you use speaker phone, the sound comes out of your car's radio speakers. There'll always be those less-than-intelligent folks that can't even walk and chew gum at the same time. They should be banned from holding any type of conversation, or doing anything that could possibly divert their attention away from driving. So no bright colors or anything like that, either. Talking on the phone shouldn't necessarily be banned, but texting takes way too much of the driver's concentration to safely do both at the same time. "

Because wrote on Sep 24, 2007 9:19 PM:

" they are either dumb, foolish or ignorant? "

JTE wrote on Sep 24, 2007 2:59 PM:

" To i cant breathe- Do you think you could learn to spell ("sumtimes"?!), punctuate, capitalize, and make sentences? That string of run-on sentences should have you doing remedial grammar classes for at least a year. "

It's not the phone wrote on Sep 24, 2007 2:31 PM:

" I believe texting while driving is stupid. But, get off the talking on the phone while driving. How may people have conversations with their passengers? How many times have you taken your eyes off the road to look at that person? I guess you need to ban talking in a car. "

Which button is cruise control? wrote on Sep 24, 2007 1:13 PM:

" I don't text while driving because I'm too busy watching my portable Amp'd Mobile TV. Gotta catch the View or I'm screwed for the day. "

its easy wrote on Sep 24, 2007 11:52 AM:

" until i got my new phone that has to be flipped open for key pad i could drive and text at the same time, and it didnt compromise my driving because its like typing on a keyboard i have done it so much that i know exactly which key is what letter and how many times, but still not a good idea. "

Mr. Mackey wrote on Sep 24, 2007 10:55 AM:

" Uh, texting while driving is bad. Mmmkay. "

i cant breathe wrote on Sep 24, 2007 10:42 AM:

" yea texting is like breathing for me its to the point i dont even think about it any more, but to save face i try not to do it while im driving but sumtimes it just happens, and on another not i keep my eyes on the road i dont have to look at my keyboard as to my keys are like on a computer so its like typing for me, so my eyes are still on the road "

Rule of Thumb wrote on Sep 24, 2007 10:01 AM:

" If you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, chances are you will not be able to chat/text on your cell while driving! Isn't it really annoying when you get stuck behind someone who gradually swerves from one side of their lane to the other, going 15 mph under the speed limit because they are too busy concentrating on their phone call? I'm not saying ban them all together - there are new devices out there where you can connect your cellphone to your car speakers allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel. Even requiring something as simple as a headset would be an improvement. Texting should be banned while driving. There is just too much attention that is diverted from driving in order to send or read a text message. "

No texting while driving... wrote on Sep 24, 2007 8:27 AM:

" Anyone who texts while driving is risking more than their own lives. They don't realize that if they were involved in a "crash" (it's not an "accident" when you're stupid), that they'd be responsible for every other person in that crash. For me, I don't want my kids to see me doing that and think it's okay... "

fred wrote on Sep 24, 2007 7:55 AM:

" The use of cell phones while driving should be outlawed and anyone caught doing it should get the same punishment as a DUI. If I am ever in an accident that is caused by a person on a cell phone it will take surgery for them to find it on the driver that used it to try to kill me. "

I wanna text like~ wrote on Sep 24, 2007 7:43 AM:

" Matt Damon in the Departed, did it while hiding it in his pocket. I think once people learn to do it that fast, should'nt have to look at it and drive as well as possible. "

Steve wrote on Sep 24, 2007 7:40 AM:

" As a college student, there is no doubt in my mind that 'texting' is a big part of youth culture. In almost every class, I here the vibrating from the person next to me texting. I am not lieing when I say that many of them simply cannot stop. It's almost as if it is un-voluntary, like breathing. It is very irritating and some are worse than others. This one girl in my Chemistry class literally carries on 'texting' conversations through the entire class everyday! "

To JD wrote on Sep 24, 2007 7:38 AM:

" Right on bro! "

These are people~~ wrote on Sep 23, 2007 11:41 PM:

" that feel they are so important and nothing could ever happen to them, they are invincible. Every time I'm with a friend and their phone rings I walk away and leave them. I don't have time for that crap, if I need to talk I'll do it in the privacy of my home. When I use to own a cell phone I never had it on, I'll take my calls later when I want to take them. Leave me a message please. I'm not that important to begin with so why do I have to have a phone attached to me like an umbilical cord. I feel sorry for these people. "

A tribute to Seth MacFarlane's lyrics: wrote on Sep 23, 2007 9:14 PM:

" Our flashy cell phones make people mumble, "Gee whiz, look how important he is. His life must rule." You'll get tumor, but on your surgery day, your doc will see it and say, "Wow, you must really be cool." "

Texting wrote on Sep 23, 2007 8:46 PM:

" Does have its place but not while driving. When my family was stuck in New Orleans and surrounding area, their cell phones didn't work but we could text them to make sure all were okay. Most of them left but the cell phone out of that area wouldn't get calls. Texting doesn't serve much of a purpose but it is good in emergencies...just not in creating them. "

Again, why do people do it? wrote on Sep 23, 2007 7:49 PM:

" Because they are just plain dumb! Drive, means just that, no smoking no drinking coffee, no eating burgers, no putting on makeup, no dialing cell numbers, no texting...etc. I saw a lady in the evening next to me driving, reading a book! "

hh wrote on Sep 23, 2007 6:58 PM:

" Why not just drive blind folded, about the same as driving while texting. Any thing to do with cell phones (talking (hands free or otherwise) texting, etc) while driving should be against the law. I really wish they were never invented. "

In Bloomington wrote on Sep 23, 2007 6:07 PM:

" The other day a woman ran a stop sign while talking on her cell phone AND smoking a cigarette. She was driving with her elbows! I was stopped at the stop sign across from her. When she drove by me I flipped her off. She would have had to use her toe to return the gesture. Ha "

JD wrote on Sep 23, 2007 5:39 PM:

" Americans are, and have been, raising their kids with a very poor sense of personal responsibility. Americans have been blaming everyone else for poor common sense their part, and thus the youth are not able to employ personal responsibility on their part. These people do not think about the repercussions of their actions until after the fact, and will then quickly place the blame elsewhere. It is not these peoples fact per se, because they are just a reflection of society's lack of personal responsibility. They do not really know any better. "

Texting while driving wrote on Sep 23, 2007 5:02 PM:

" is just plain stupid. A person can't be paying attention to traffic, signs, traffic lights or pedestrians while typing on their phone. I suppose there are some people who think they are so important that they deserve to endanger everyone around them in order to communicate with their "buds." "

Thought wrote on Sep 23, 2007 4:54 PM:

" Cell phones are stupid "

to: Stupid people wrote on Sep 23, 2007 4:49 PM:

" don't forget to add your name on that list...people who post the first ignorant comment to an article. "

If in an accident... wrote on Sep 23, 2007 4:46 PM:

" I will sue the cell phone company for allowing me to buy the phone in the first place. "

to to just a guy wrote on Sep 23, 2007 4:37 PM:

" we aren't talking about the useful side of texting! "

guilty wrote on Sep 23, 2007 4:32 PM:

" man i am definitely guilty of doin this, but im a avid texter id rather do that more than calling people now, but as to why i do it while im driving i couldnt even tell you , im good at it though "

A flaming Moron wrote on Sep 23, 2007 4:14 PM:

" Bandwidth wise one could text The Bible and it still wouldn't use as much bandwidth as a ten second phone call. Most cell phone companies charge extra for text messaging. And in conclusion referring to Stupid people comments. One of my sisters owns a Blackberry and her daughter owns a pink Juicy Blackberry. My stepbrother pays the bill. I am still waiting for the call from the ER that one them looks like a duck wearing a flip phone as a bill. After the Air bag deploys. "

agree with stupid people wrote on Sep 23, 2007 3:52 PM:

" well said. Many people have no common sense and don't think. That's exactly why they text while driving and voted for Bush. "

To Stupid People wrote on Sep 23, 2007 3:31 PM:

" I'm sure you're different and more special than most people. "

GREAT wrote on Sep 23, 2007 3:18 PM:

" Why can't people use common sense. But I forgot where I am at, it seems that these morons and idiots have a hard enough time just trying to drive down the road. Now they are trying to text or talk to a person and forgetting what they are doing. MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO USE A SELL PHONE IN A VEHICLE. AFTER A COUPLE OF MAJOR FINES THEY MIGHT STOP. THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING ARE LOCAL REP AND SEN CAN USE TO ADVANCE THERE CAREERS, THINK ABOUT IT. "

to stupid people wrote on Sep 23, 2007 3:10 PM:

" Sounds to me that you are one of these people "

they wrote on Sep 23, 2007 3:07 PM:

" imagine themselves to be cool? "

to: Just a Guy wrote on Sep 23, 2007 2:57 PM:

" In the event of a disaster (Minneapolis bridge collapse, 9-11 attacks in NYC), texting is one of the most reliable ways of communication. Cell phone lines quickly get overwhelmed by the volume of calls, but text messages can still get through, even though are carried by cell phone frequencies. Text messaging while driving is idiotic and selfish. But text messaging is useful. "

To: Stupid People wrote on Sep 23, 2007 2:42 PM:

" Well said, I completely agree. "

Just A Guy wrote on Sep 23, 2007 12:59 PM:

" Just tell cell phone companies that they are no longer able to put text capabilities on cell phones. Pretty simple, really. Texting is useless anyways. "

I don't understand, wrote on Sep 23, 2007 12:29 PM:

" Unless it is an emergency, why do people need to talk on the phone OR text while they are driving? "

Leslie wrote on Sep 23, 2007 12:20 PM:

" I dont know if anyone will be totally open to the idea of submitting their cellphone number in exchange for ads. the risk of spam is just to relevant these days. I dont see this going far as the only postive thing to look at this is seen in the free texting which is alreadt offered from sitess like peekamo without ads. "

Stupid people wrote on Sep 23, 2007 11:23 AM:

" People do a lot of stupid things... smoking, supporting Bush's war, driving drunk. Some people are just dumb. "
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