Drivers talk on cell phones less but surf, e-mail more

Despite nearly a decade-long national fight against distracted driving, the percentage of drivers engaging in smart phone-related activities behind the wheel has steadily increased over the past six years, a new study shows.

State Farm has conducted an annual survey since 2009 to measure drivers' attitudes and behaviors related to distracted driving. Over that period, the percentage of drivers who report talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving has decreased, and those who admit to texting behind the wheel has remained stable.

But some equally risky behaviors have increased significantly. The percentage of drivers who acknowledge accessing the Internet while driving has doubled, from 13% in 2009 to 26% this year. Similarly, in 2009, 15% said they read email while driving; 25% admitted doing so this year. The share of drivers who say they read social media networks such as Twitter behind the wheel rose from 9% in 2009 to 20% this year.

"We're not sure why (these behaviors) are increasing," says Chris Mullen, State Farm's director of technology research. "But they are just as dangerous. People have a perception of what they are able to do with the attention span they have (while driving). They believe they have available attention they can spend on something in addition to driving. They will spend that time with various behaviors."

Since 2007, 44 states and the District of Columbia have enacted bans on texting while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association; 14 states and Washington, D.C., prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. No state prohibits all cell phone use behind the wheel.

States might be able to do more to prevent distracted driving with more money, but most of them have not been able to qualify for federal funding meant specifically for that purpose, says Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the GHSA.

In fiscal years 2014 and 2015, Connecticut was the only state to qualify for distracted driving funding approved by Congress in the federal transportation bill. It was the only state to meet the strict requirements of the bill, such as progressive fines for repeat offenses and no exceptions for drivers who text while stopped at a traffic light.

"Most states have strong distracted driving laws and are effectively enforcing them," Adkins says. "However, the federal funding requirements are so restrictive that it effectively prohibits nearly every state from qualifying for this needed funding… When the carrot is so far out of reach, states are not going to be motivated to strive toward it."

The State Farm survey finds that many drivers now attempt to self-regulate when it comes to distracting behaviors. For example, 63% of motorists say they're more likely to use their cell phones while stopped at a traffic light.

But that practice isn't necessarily any safer. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that more than one-third of all crashes – 36% -- occur at intersections. Driver recognition and decision errors – which include things such as failure to see or recognize potential dangers from other vehicles – accounted for 84% of those crashes.

"There are demands on you when you're stopped, even though you're not operating the vehicle in motion," Mullen says.

Each year since 2009, State Farm has commissioned an online survey of approximately 1,000 licensed drivers 18 and older who own a cell phone and drive one to 80 hours per week.