A survey of the nation's motorists finds that 73 percent take the wheel while yakking on a cell phone and 5 percent do so while drunk.
Columbus, Ohio-based insurer Nationwide Mutual Insurance, which commissioned the study, cited statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that 80 percent of auto accidents in the United States are caused by such inattention each year.
The Internet survey of 1,200 Americans conducted by MarketVision Research found that in addition to the 5 percent of respondents who admit to driving drunk, 4 percent said they drive with an open container of alcohol.
The majority of respondents–83 percent–believe they are safe drivers, and 59 percent don't consider themselves distracted drivers.
However, the survey said 73 percent talk on a cell phone while driving, only 16 percent drive at or below the speed limit, and 38 percent admit they have driven a certain distance without any recollection of doing so from feeling drowsy.
Nationwide said its survey found that even those who perceive themselves as safe drivers admit to doing outlandish things behind the wheel such as changing clothes, balancing a checkbook and shaving.
"We are a nation of people with too much to do and too little time. In fact, more than 80 percent of drivers surveyed identified themselves as multitaskers," said Bill Windsor, associate vice president of safety at Nationwide.
Mr. Windsor noted that "multitasking while behind the wheel poses a threat to you and your fellow drivers."
The survey broke age groupings down into three: generation "Y," ages 18 to 27; generation "X," ages 28 to 44; and baby boomers 45 to 60.
Among the survey's key findings:
o Three out of four of those surveyed admit to feeling sleepy while driving. To stay awake, 81 percent said they roll down the window; 79 percent play loud music; and 69 percent drink anything with caffeine to stay alert.
o Close to a quarter of drivers admit to multitasking while driving. Thirty-five percent of generation "Y" respondents said they multitask while driving, while 30 percent of generation "X" drivers say they multitask and 21 percent of baby boomers do it.
o Generation "Y" drivers are more apt to be distracted by technology; 37 percent admitted to either text messaging or instant messaging on their cell phones while driving. Only 17 percent of generation "X" and 2 percent of baby boomers say they do this.
o Young people are more inclined to eat while driving. The generation "Y" drivers were the worst with 73 percent saying they would eat snacks and 48 percent saying they would eat a full meal while driving. This compares to the baby boomers where 42 percent said they don't eat snacks and 71 percent said they will not eat a meal while driving.
o More than a third who perform distracting tasks while driving do it regardless of weather conditions.
o Among the distractions drivers admit to, 31 percent say they daydream; 19 percent fix their hair, text or instant message; 14 percent comfort or discipline children; and 8 percent drive with a pet on their lap.
Other multitasking efforts that distract drivers include changing seats with passengers, reading a book, watching a movie, writing a grocery list, nursing a baby and putting in contact lenses.
Twenty-three percent of respondents said they experience road rage distraction.
The survey found geography is not a rage factor. Northeasterners admit to having road rage, but so do 26 percent of Southerners and 21 percent of respondents from the West. The survey also found that generation "Y" woman were more inclined to experience road rage than any other group.
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