"The cell phone can be a fatal distraction for those who use it while they drive."Washington (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - A study has found that 69 percent of U.S. drivers talked on their cell phone while driving compared to 21 percent of drivers from the United Kingdom.
The study released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that 31 percent of drivers in the United States reported that they had read or sent text messages or emails while driving, compared to 15 percent of drivers in Spain.
The study, published in CDC`s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, examined two specific types of self-reported distracted driving behaviors: cell phone use while driving and reading or sending text or e-mail messages while driving, among drivers aged 18-64 years in the United States and in seven European countries ( Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom) within the 30 days before they were surveyed.
"The cell phone can be a fatal distraction for those who use it while they drive," CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a statement. " Driving and dialing or texting don`t mix. If you are driving, pull over to a safe place and stop before you use your cell phone."
According to the CDC, many strategies have been applied to try to reduce distracted driving in the United States and other countries. These include law enforcement efforts, communication campaigns, vehicle and cell phone technologic advances, legislation, and safe driver education.
Some strategies have been aimed specifically at high risk drivers such as teens and new drivers. As of February 2013, 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have laws in place restricting at least some teens or new drivers from using cell phones while driving.
(U.C003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
