By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network
BLOOMINGTON – In spite of laws already on the books, an alarming number of drivers admit to using their cell phones while driving.
State Farm’s annual Distracted Driving survey polled 1,000 U.S. drivers over 18 years old. What they found is that many drivers are checking their phones often while they drive. More than a third of their respondents say they still text while they drive, an illegal act in Illinois since 2010 that will get motorists at least a $120 ticket. More than a quarter admit to surfing the web behind the wheel.
“It’s surprising that it continues to stay the same or go up in certain areas,” said Spokesperson Missy Dundov, concerned the trends aren’t dropping year-over-year. “People are continuing to do a lot of bad habits when they’re driving. They’re still texting and checking the internet.”
It’s worse with people age 18-24. Six in 10 of those asked admitted to texting and half said they surf the web.
Dundov added that those numbers are just the people who admitted to doing the act that will get you at least a $120 ticket.
“Who knows how high those numbers really are because this is just based on our survey respondents and people who admit to what they’re doing,” she said.
Dundov said State Farm considers factors like distracted driving when setting rates for drivers, but it carries much less weight than other characteristics.
Illinois has been a “hands-free” state since 2014, meaning that it’s illegal to use your phone without a device freeing your hands to drive.
The survey was conducted last summer and results were released last week.
