According to a survey performed by State Farm Insurance, as many as 21 percent of smartphone-owning drivers confess to accessing the web while driving -- or webbing -- as the company refers to it. Drivers between the ages of 18 and 29 are by far the most likely demographic to endanger themselves (and others) though for a quick Internet fix with 48 percent admitting to the deed.
This is the fourth such look State Farm has taken at tech-savvy drivers. Each year, the amount motorists attempting to multi-task by simultaneously checking emails, updating their social network status and getting online in general has continued to increase. By comparison, only 13 percent of cellphone-toting drivers admitted to webbing in 2009 under the same survey -- that number is now up to 21 percent.
Drivers aged 18 to 29 increased their vehicular web usage from 29 percent to 48 percent while 30 percent of this age group admits to updating their social networking status -- that's up from 20 percent in 2009. The same group also admits reading social media networks (36 percent) and checking email (43 percent) while driving.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the report showed that webbing drops with age.
When asked about regulations dealing with distracted driving, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed strongly agreed with laws prohibiting texting. However, two-thirds of respondents felt like laws aren't enforced anyway.
The study includes data from about 1000 motorists over the age of 17. It's also important to note that the survey was conducted online. As a result, the poll's answers are more likely colored by the recounts of vehicle-driving technorati than old curmudgeons or modern-day luddites. The company's look was further refined to smartphone owners who drive between 1 to 80 hours per month.
