BLOOMINGTON, IL – Results from an online survey conducted by State Farm found that 19 percent of drivers use the Internet while driving, primarily on their smartphones.

In November, 2010, State Farm conducted a survey to find out about smartphone use among drivers. Survey respondents consisted of 912 drivers who met the following criteria: had a valid driver’s license, reported driving at least one hour per week, and owned a smartphone.

Of these drivers, 19 percent admitted to using the Internet while driving. The top five Web-based activities they engage in are:

• Finding/reading driving directions

• Reading email

• Looking up/referencing specific information of immediate interest

• Looking at/reading social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
  Composing/sending email

Most respondents who said they use the Internet while driving reported that they engage in these activities when stopped at a stop light or stopped in heavy traffic. They also commonly said they access the Internet when driving alone, during daylight hours, or on long drives on the interstate. Approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population owns a smartphone, according to State Farm.

“We are very interested in learning more about the growing trend of using the Web while driving,” said Cindy Garretson, Director of Auto Technology Research at State Farm. “We are working to prevent crashes and save lives, and this research takes us one step closer to understanding the driver distractions that affect everyone on our roadways.”

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