Most motorists in California are concerned about other motorists being distracted while driving, and specifically using cell phones while driving. According to a survey by the California Office of Traffic Safety, distracted driving is the number one traffic safety fear for most California drivers, much more than aggressive driving, speeding or drunk driving.
According to the survey, 39% of drivers cited distracted driving as a major safety problem on the roads. That was a dramatic increase from previous years. In 2010, drivers believed that speeding and aggressive driving were the biggest problems, with 22% of the drivers voicing such opinions. That was followed by using cell phones and texting while driving, and 80% of drivers were concerned about these practices. However, in 2011, the number of people who fear speeding and aggressive driving by motorists has dropped to 18%, while the number of persons who fear intoxicated drivers has dropped to 13%.
What Los Angeles car accident lawyers find really ironic is that distracted driving is the number one safety concern for teen and young drivers – a category of drivers that is at the highest risk for cell phone use while driving. Younger drivers are much more concerned about the risks of drunk driving. Older motorists, on the other hand, seem to be more concerned about cell phone use while driving.
Law enforcement in California will confirm that hand-held cell phone use in and around the state is high in spite of the ban on the use of hand-held cell phones. This is also in spite of the fact that there are a number of technological aids that are available to ensure that drivers do not have to use a handheld device while driving in order to remain in touch.
