It appears as though all the “don’t text and drive” campaigns may need some changes in the near future, because a new study released by AT&T reveals drivers who use their phones while driving aren’t just texting. Some are taking selfies and checking into social media, while others are even engaging in video chats.
The research, which was commissioned by AT&T and conducted by Braun Research, polled 2,067 people between the ages of 16 and 65 in the U.S. who use their smartphone and drive at least once a day. After analyzing the research, AT&T found that seven in 10 people use their smartphones when driving. Most of them, or 61 percent, admitted to texting, while a good chunk of people (33 percent) said they were reading, sending or replying to emails.
When you pull up to someone using their phone, it’s also highly likely they’re surfing the net, as the research says 28 percent, or three in 10 people are browsing the Internet while they’re supposed to be driving. Meanwhile, four in 10 drivers are engaging in social media, with 27 percent using Facebook, and 14 percent using both Twitter and Instagram. In fact, 30 percent of Twitter users who post while driving admit to doing it "all the time."
People are even using their time behind the wheel to strike a pose, as 17 percent of drivers admitted to taking a selfie or some other type of photo. Even more alarming is that 12 percent are actually taking a video, with 10 percent of people even engaging in video chats. According to the research, 27 percent of those people seem to think they can take videos safely behind the wheel. Snapchatting while driving also seems pretty popular, with 11 percent of drivers using the app.
Even though everyone knows they’re not supposed to be on their phone while they’re driving, 62 percent of people keep their smartphone within easy reach when they’re behind the wheel. While the results of this survey are unsettling, AT&T is using it to increase awareness of the dangers of using a smartphone while driving. The company even plans on collaborating with social platforms to get the message across, with a nationwide virtual reality tour kicking off this summer that aims to simulate the dangers of using a smartphone while driving.
Twitter has also agreed to work with AT&T to try and change drivers’ habits, while AT&T is also expanding its “It Can Wait” campaign. Since its launch in 2010, the campaign has inspired more than 6.5 million pledges not to text and drive. The goal now is to get people to not use their smartphone at all when they’re behind the wheel.
This article originally appeared on MSN.
