Internet Use, Emailing While Driving Prevalent

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Internet Use, Emailing While Driving Prevalent

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Many car accidents in Illinois are caused by texting or emailing while driving and other Internet usage activities. But just how common is using your smartphone and emailing while driving?

“An online State Farm survey found 19 percent of drivers say they use the Web while driving,” reports the Chicago Sun Times.

According to the study, drivers’ Internet use includes emailing while driving, surfing the web and checking Twitter and Facebook news feeds and updates.

The State Farm survey is based on information provided by 912 smartphone users who drive. Most drivers who are guilty of surfing the web and emailing while driving do so while in heavy traffic or stopped at a traffic light.

The study also finds that the participants most often use the web on long drives, during the day, and while driving alone.

About 40 percent of Americans use a smartphone, according to the Sun-Times.

Even if drivers are using the Internet or emailing while driving at slow speeds, in stop-and-go traffic or while stopped, there is still a risk of causing car accidents in Illinois and nationwide. Even fender-benders can cause serious motor vehicle damage and injury.