Swedish automaker Volvo has long put safety at the top of its priorities list, constantly pushing its designers and engineers to create new features that keep drivers and passengers safe. The company recently commissioned a survey on safety by The Harris Poll.
The results were startling: 71 percent of those surveyed use their phones while driving, putting themselves and their passengers at risk of injuries in automobile crashes.
The survey found that members of Generation X are more likely to use their phones while driving than Millennials or Generation Z (born in the mid-1990s to the early 2000s).
“Distracted driving is not unique to younger generations. In fact, it’s a problem we are seeing across generations and demographics,” said a Volvo spokesperson.
The company’s survey found that the vast majority of Americans (89 percent) believe that better education about distract4ed driving is needed. Seventy-four percent claim that they would willingly pay more for a car that corrects or prevents distracted driving.
People also seem to understand the extent of the dangers posed to them by distracted driver, as more than half of those surveyed (55 percent) said distracted drivers are more of a threat than impaired drivers (31 percent).
Other highlights from the data:
- Parents are more likely to be distracted drivers than non-parents: 73 percent vs. 66 percent overall. (A third of parents admit to using their phones while driving with their kids in the vehicle.)
- Thirty-two percent say they put their phones in “do not disturb” mode before driving and a third say they drive in silence to keep distractions to a minimum.
Those who are injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers have legal recourse. Speak with a personal injury attorney about your options.
