Drivers: "Do As I Say, Not As I Do"

Almost everyone agrees it's wrong, but more than a third of people surveyed by the AAA have admitted to reading or sending text messages while driving.  And that was just in the past month.

These are some of the results from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's Annual Traffic Safety Culture Index survey.

•  95 -- Percentage of drivers who viewed reading or sending texts by other drivers as a serious safety threat.
• 35 -- Percentage of drivers who admitted to reading or sending texts while driving in the previous month.
• 88 -- Percentage of drivers who viewed talking on a cell phone while driving as a serious safety hazard. 
• 67 -- Percentage of drivers who admitted to using a cell phone while driving.

The survey results were released as part of the AAA's "Heads Up Driving Week."  The auto club is encouraging drivers to pledge not to text while driving for a week.

Texting while operating a motor vehicle is illegal in Virginia.  And drivers under age 18 are banned from any use of a cell phone.  Both offenses are secondary, meaning an officer must observe a primary infraction, like speeding, to issue a ticket for texting.

Links:
AAA's Distracting Driving Report
Texting while driving laws by state