Texting focus of AT&T teen survey

An online survey fielded by AT&T in April and conducted by SKDKnickerbocker and Beck Research shows that teens believe there is less danger texting while at a stoplight than while driving.

One-third of 1,200 teens surveyed thought texting while stopped at a light was dangerous, compared to 75 percent of those who agreed it was very dangerous to do so while driving, according to the study.

Forty-three of those questioned admitted to texting while driving.

The study showed that 46 percent of the teens send between 21 and 100 text messages a day. An additional 17 percent said they sent more than 100 text messages a day.

If parental example is a factor in how teens handle their phones while driving, the survey reported that teens said their parents text while driving at similar rates as themselves, but alarming is that 77 percent of teens agree that adults text “all the time.” In addition, the study showed that those individuals did not have family rules that prohibited texting while driving.

In addition, 54 percent of Hispanic teens admit to texting while driving compared to 41 percent of Caucasians and
42 percent of African-American teenagers. And when stopped at a traffic light, 70 percent of Hispanic teens admit to texting while stopped at a light compared to 58 percent of Caucasians and 61 percent of African-American teenagers.

The study showed that the biggest deterrents for teens when deciding whether to send or read texts while driving are tougher laws and fines and license suspension. Seventy-one percent said a fine of $500 would stop them from doing it, while 72 percent said license suspension would make them stop.

Thirty-four percent of the teens said an effect on having or getting a scholarship if they continued to text while driving would be a deterrent.

Read the executive summary of the study.