July 23, 2013—A recent study from market research firm Harris Interactive found a year-over-year decrease in driver distractions including making and receiving phone calls and reading text messages.
The percentage of consumers reporting one or more distracted driving experiences in a four-week period dropped from 84 percent in 2012 to 82 percent in 2013, according to the AutoTECHAST study.
Many technology-related driver distractions showed decreases, such as the percentage of drivers making a phone call (53 percent in 2012, 47 percent in 2013), receiving a phone call (59 percent in 2012, 53 percent in 2013), and reading a text message (25 percent in 2012, 23 percent in 2012).
The study also revealed reduced emailing and texting while driving by younger auto consumers, ages 18–34.
Harris believes the focus of many new laws and educational campaigns at the state and local level have contributed to the decline.
The number of times people are distracted per four-week period also showed a drop. The total number, on average, of distracted driving acts declined from 36.5 in 2012 to 33.8 in 2013.
