80 % of Americans favor ban on SMS with over 50% supporting ban on cell phones

The results of new On Your Side® survey, released today by Nationwide Insurance, showed that 8 in 10 Americans surveyed this month say they would support legislation restricting cell phone use while driving. According to the survey, conducted Aug. 5-9, 2009, by Harris Interactive, 80 % of Americans favor a ban on texting while driving, while two thirds favor a ban on cell phone calls, and more than half say they would support a ban on cell phone use altogether. Earlier this summer, Nationwide announced its support of the concept of a national ban on texting while driving to help curb crashes and reduce auto insurance claims. 

The survey results are being announced as hundreds of highway traffic safety advocates and officials are convening at the Governors Highway Safety Association’s annual conference in Savannah, Ga., to discuss driving while distracted (DWD) and other highway safety issues. This meeting is taking place in advance of a presidential summit on DWD that is scheduled for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in Washington, DC. 

The new survey results found that there are varying degrees of support for different types of restrictions. Overall, 8 in 10 drivers support some type of cell phone usage restriction, he survey reports. 
• The majority of respondents say they are supportive of laws restricting any type of cell phone use while driving. 
• 80 % of respondents support a ban on text messaging while driving. 
• 80 % of respondents support a ban on e-mailing while driving. 
• Two thirds (67 %) of respondents say they are supportive of laws restricting phone calls while driving. 
• Of those who support some type of cell phone usage restriction, nearly 3 in 4 believe the law should apply to all drivers, not just specific groups. 

Meanwhile, support for a ban was high in geographic regions where one would expect to find higher cell phone usage and more multitasking lifestyles. The majority of respondents in the west and northeast regions say they would support a ban on any type of cell phone use while driving. 

While it’s not surprising that older generations are supportive of bans, even members of Generations X (ages 33-44) and Y (ages 21-32), who are more likely to use cell phones, are supportive of laws, particularly those banning text messaging and e-mailing. Three fourths of Generation X and Y respondents favor these restrictions. The overwhelming support for legislation may be driven by increased public recognition of the dangers associated with DWD. In 2008, Nationwide’s DWD survey revealed that 45 % of respondents had been hit or nearly hit by another driver using a cell phone. 

In addition, respondents say they are witnessing a growth in distracted driving behavior on the roads, underscoring the importance of public education to raise awareness about this dangerous practice. 
• More than half of respondents say they see more drivers using cell phones while driving than they did 12 months ago. 
• Nearly three-quarters of respondents say that when they drive, they always or often see other drivers using cell phones. 

Approximately half of drivers, or 49 % say a law restricting use of cell phones would not change their behavior because they don’t currently use cell phones while driving.
• When you compare this statistic to Nationwide’s 2008 DWD survey, which revealed that more than 80 % of drivers admit to talking on their cell phone while driving, it may be the case that some drivers are either in denial or too embarrassed to admit their DWD problem. 

Furthermore, four out of five respondents (82 %) who admit to using their cell phones while driving say their behavior would change if cell phone usage were restricted by law.
• However, 18 % of respondents who admit to using their cell phones while driving say they would continue to do so regardless of a change in law, with Generation Y most likely to resist the change (26 %). 

Nationwide’s 2008 DWD survey found that 43 % of drivers believe technological advances that prevent cell phones from working in a moving vehicle would be the most effective solution to DWD. Nationwide is committed to helping customers protect what matters most and that is why the company recently stated its support of the concept of a national ban on texting while driving. In addition to saving lives, fewer DWD related crashes could also result in lower insurance costs for consumers.