More than one-third of college students use cell phone applications while driving: survey

Birmingham, AL – Thirty-five percent of college students use mobile phone applications while driving, according to a survey from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The survey sampled 93 UAB students who own a smartphone and use Internet-based applications on the device at least four or more times per week, according to a press release. Results showed that more than one-third use mobile applications while driving “sometimes,” while 1 out of every 10 respondents used them “often,” “almost always” or “always.”

Researcher Lauren McCartney concluded that initial findings show laws banning cell phone use should not be limited to conversations or text messaging, but should be extended to all cell phone use.

The survey will be presented Aug. 4 at the 119th American Psychological Association Annual Convention in Washington. It was part of a larger UAB research study that examined the effects of mobile application use on pedestrian safety.