Adults engage in TWD, research center says

A study by researchers at the Washington-based Pew Research Center shows adults are just as likely as teens to have texted while driving and are "substantially more likely" to have talked on a cell phone while driving.

The findings, released June 18, are based on survey results collected from 2,252 adults from April 29 to May 30 through Pew's Internet & American Life Project. Data was compared to results from a similar survey conducted in September 2009 of 800 teens ages 12 to 17 and a parent or guardian.

Results also showed:

• 49 percent of adults say they have been passengers in cars with a driver who was texting.
• 44 percent of adults say they have been passengers of drivers who used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger.
• 47 percent of respondents to the September 2009 survey were adults who said they have sent or read a text massage while driving, compared with 34 percent of teens ages 16 to 17 who said the same.