The prevalence of cell-talking and texting while driving has made multitasking in the car a concern, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting that distracted drivers account for almost 80 percent of crashes in the U.S.
Many states and cities, including Chicago, have banned using hand-held cell phones while driving, forcing drivers to use hands-free devices.
“We are a nation of people with too much to do and too little time. In fact, more than 80 percent of drivers surveyed identified themselves as multitaskers,” Bill Windsor, associate vice president of safety at Nationwide Mutual Insurance, said in a news release in January when the company’s survey results were released.
“However, driving requires significant attention. Multitasking while behind the wheel poses a threat to you and your fellow drivers.”
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Nationwide conducted a survey in 2006 that asked 1,200 drivers what they did behind the wheel. The survey showed 73 percent said they talk on cell phones. Other survey findings:
Respondents who said they always multitask in the car
35 percent of Gen Y-ers
30 percent of Gen X-ers
21 percent of Baby Boomers
Those who text or IM while driving
37 precent of GenY-ers
17 percent of Gen X-ers
2 percent of Baby Boomers
Types of multitasking behind the wheel
31 percent daydream
23 percent experience road rage
19 percent fix their hair, text or IM
14 percent comfort or discipline children
8 percent drive with a pet in their lap
Other tasks mentioned include
*Changing seats wtih passengers
*Reading a book
*Watching a movie
*Writing a grocery list
*Nursing a baby
*Putting in contact lenses
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BY THE NUMBERS
Eighty five percent of people multitask, and a majority believes they’re good at it, according to a 2006 survey by Apex Performance, specialists in leader development and performance management, based in North Carolina. Here are some results of the survey of employees nationwide:
How often respondents said they multitask
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13% Occasionally
15% Never/don’t know
34% Frequently
38% All the time
Respondents who said they are good at multitasking
* 47 percent of women
* 29 percent of men
* 50 percent of those holding postgraduate levels of education
* 28 percent of people who completed high school
* 54 percent of employees earning more than $75,000 annually
* 28 percent of those earn- ing less than $25K a year